I have to tell you I am so grateful for another day and the ability to wake up and see it, but I really dread that I must return to work on Monday. I have enjoyed this time off.
We haven't done a lot, but to just be able to spend time with my children is a blessing. We've played games, talked, laughed, watched way too much television, and they have played the video game way too much as well, but it has been good to just veg. out and not have to get up early and go anywhere.
The brakes on my car are in need of desperate replacing and the inspection sticker must be replaced as well, so that has hindered us from doing much. We may try to get out of here and go to the park or library...not sure, it's still raining off and on.
The other thing is we will officially be in the other house next weekend. I won't have the money to get the heater connected and inspected, so I'm looking for room heaters, but we will be in it. Closure for this other journey is upon us and we are all ready. Our current home holds so many lovely memories, but they are over-shadowed when your family is torn apart and hurting. So we look forward to a new perspective and a new beginning.
There are also other decisions I will be making in the next few months and I ask that you all please pray for me, that I hear the voice of the Lord clearly and follow His leading.
Christmas will soon be upon us. We will do Christmas a little different this year. We won't exchange gifts until January. But the spirit and meaning behind Christmas won't change. We actually thought a few years ago that we would have this type of Christmas, but God stepped in and it was a miraculously, wonderful Christmas. He may have something like that in store for us yet again, and then again, this may be another Christmas where we just focus on HIM entirely. Afterall, He is the reason for the season!!!
11/29/2008
11/28/2008
The Day After!
While thanksgiving is year long, or should be at least, the BIG meal to celebrate it has passed. We had a slightly non-traditional meal and it was great. It really was great!!!
WE finally sat down to eat around 5ish and to hear my children raving over the food and how good it was and so forth, was a blessing to me. They all really loved EVERYTHING. Then we did what most do, we fell asleep! Oh yeah, we did watch part of the football game and my children were able to see the Jonas Brothers during half-time. I still have no clue what is so great abut them, but I don't say too much, because I remember when...
We had to get back out of the house to take a movie back, but as soon as we returned, we enjoyed dessert. My baby girl made a cherry cobbler, cream cheese pie, and 2 pumpkin pies. So, seeing as to how we had a hard time choosing just one, we had a small piece of each. Warm cobbler, with vanilla ice cream on top, pumpkin with cool whip, and cream cheese with a glass of milk; LOL Delicious.
Then we just spent time hanging out together. We played Mad Gab and then they played the video game (weekends and holidays are when they get to play so they take full advantage of it).
For breakfast this morning we had pumpkin pie or cherry cobbler...which ever was prefered. Still Delicious.
I pray your Thanksgiving was a blessed one, but remember to give thanks all year round, not just on one day that man has set aside. Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever!!!
WE finally sat down to eat around 5ish and to hear my children raving over the food and how good it was and so forth, was a blessing to me. They all really loved EVERYTHING. Then we did what most do, we fell asleep! Oh yeah, we did watch part of the football game and my children were able to see the Jonas Brothers during half-time. I still have no clue what is so great abut them, but I don't say too much, because I remember when...
We had to get back out of the house to take a movie back, but as soon as we returned, we enjoyed dessert. My baby girl made a cherry cobbler, cream cheese pie, and 2 pumpkin pies. So, seeing as to how we had a hard time choosing just one, we had a small piece of each. Warm cobbler, with vanilla ice cream on top, pumpkin with cool whip, and cream cheese with a glass of milk; LOL Delicious.
Then we just spent time hanging out together. We played Mad Gab and then they played the video game (weekends and holidays are when they get to play so they take full advantage of it).
For breakfast this morning we had pumpkin pie or cherry cobbler...which ever was prefered. Still Delicious.
I pray your Thanksgiving was a blessed one, but remember to give thanks all year round, not just on one day that man has set aside. Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever!!!
11/26/2008
Disappointed
We were supposed to be in Houston by now, to spend Thanksgiving with dear friends. However, that was not what God had planned for us. It's hard sometimes, excedting God's Will, especially when you have one of your own and you think yours is far better. ;-)
So the children were disappointed as was I. We really need to get away from here for a while and just have some fun and not have to worry about all that is taking place and has taken place in our lives. You know, just a breath of fresh air.
Anyway, we stayed up way too late last night, ummmmmmmmmm this morning, watching movies and just hanging out together. The children thought I had to work today but when they discovered that I had taken the day off, they were happy. As much as I love being with my children, my children love being with me in return. That is a blessing!!!!
We made out our own Thanksgiving menu...nothing traditional I don't think, not much anyway. I never fry foods anymore, but they asked for fried chicken, broccoli & rice casserole, yams, pea salad, rolls, cabbage, dressing, cream cheese pie, pumpkin pie, cherry cobbler, vanilla ice cream, and sweet tea.
Makes me hungry just typing that down.
At any rate, we are still most thankful for much. I'll post tomorrow how our day went. We're gonna enjoy every minute of it.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving and in all thing give thanks, even the disappointments!!!
So the children were disappointed as was I. We really need to get away from here for a while and just have some fun and not have to worry about all that is taking place and has taken place in our lives. You know, just a breath of fresh air.
Anyway, we stayed up way too late last night, ummmmmmmmmm this morning, watching movies and just hanging out together. The children thought I had to work today but when they discovered that I had taken the day off, they were happy. As much as I love being with my children, my children love being with me in return. That is a blessing!!!!
We made out our own Thanksgiving menu...nothing traditional I don't think, not much anyway. I never fry foods anymore, but they asked for fried chicken, broccoli & rice casserole, yams, pea salad, rolls, cabbage, dressing, cream cheese pie, pumpkin pie, cherry cobbler, vanilla ice cream, and sweet tea.
Makes me hungry just typing that down.
At any rate, we are still most thankful for much. I'll post tomorrow how our day went. We're gonna enjoy every minute of it.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving and in all thing give thanks, even the disappointments!!!
11/22/2008
Awakenings
God is so truly amazing to me. His timing is unlike any others. I've been praying for the relationship with God that I had 3 years ago. And it's not fully restored, but I can see God working in me towards that restoration point and beyond.
I feel blessed to be at this place at a time like this.
I am so grateful to God for giving my dear friend the insight to even share The Shack with me and keep in mind that she had not even read it at the time that she told me about it.
I believe that God used that book to begin to speak into my heart once again as He had begun 3 years ago. The intimate relationship that I so longed for and missed so desperately, is becoming a part of my life once again.
As I was reading The Shack, God began impressing upon my heart to read the story about George Mueller. All I knew was that he had started orphanages and asked no one for anything, but through the Word of God and praying the scriptures, God provided all that was needed daily.
I thought that after I read The Shack, I would just ignore that prompting, but He laid it so heavily on my heart...as though He knew I would try to ignore his initial prompting (DUH He knows everything already). So I found a free ebook online and printed the Autobiography of George Mueller. I don't even know what chapter I'm on. I've read about his life before Christ and he was a mess and steeped in sin. But around the age of 21 he was with a friend that was saved, but continued to backslide. This friend told Mueller he was on his way to a prayer meeting with a few men. Mueller, not understanding why he had such a great urge to go, asked if it would be okay for him to go along. It was at this meeting that Mueller saw for the first time a man get down on his knees to pray. This began the awakening in Mueller's life. He, over time, fully gave his life to Christ and began to head the voice of the Holy Spirit. I am at the point in the life story that he has become a pastor.
He tells about this one meeting of believing women and the women ask him what does he believe about believers baptism. He basically stated that he had been baptized at a young age and did not believe that one had to be or needed to be baptized again once becoming a believer. One of the women encouraged him to not give his opinion again until he searched the scriptures for clarity. Which he did and realized that the scriptures never say anything about being sprinkled with water, but did speak on being fully immersed in water after becoming a believer in Christ. He then tells about pulling out of the London Society. This was a group that basically stated who could or couldn't do missions, where they could go, who they could minister to, if they were eligible to even do so and so forth. He read the scriptures and could not find where man has the authority to direct another mans path concerning being a teacher, pastor, or missionary. Thus he pulled out of that group and heeded the voice of the Holy Spirit and went where He led him to go. He speaks about letting scripture confirm scripture, instead of taking mans word.
To some, these things may seem like common sense, but to one who is relearning how to walk with Christ fully dependent upon Him and Him alone, these teachings are a bit profound for me.
I know I have my trust issues, so I'm wondering if this is why the Lord led me to read about George Mueller. I don't know at this point so I will just continue to read and allow the Holy Spirit to stir within me things that have been dead or lay dormant for some time.
I am eager to see the path that God has laid out before me. The path that He wants me to follow. I know I will stray and fall and stumble, but I'm so confident now that even when I do, He is never far from me and will guide me back.
On another note, I have taken to calling God- Papa. As I read the book I felt that Papa was just such an intimate name. A name that resembled such closeness and familiarity, such as I have longed for all my life. It feels and sounds so natural and flows so easily. I love the sound and it feels so very intimate. I'm loving it. Another thing I'm loving is the presence of the Holy Spirit. I've always loved it, but didn't experience it as much as I have in this last week or so. It is so...I can't even describe it.
I'll keep you posted as the Lord continues to guide me and lead me.
In His Grip
I feel blessed to be at this place at a time like this.
I am so grateful to God for giving my dear friend the insight to even share The Shack with me and keep in mind that she had not even read it at the time that she told me about it.
I believe that God used that book to begin to speak into my heart once again as He had begun 3 years ago. The intimate relationship that I so longed for and missed so desperately, is becoming a part of my life once again.
As I was reading The Shack, God began impressing upon my heart to read the story about George Mueller. All I knew was that he had started orphanages and asked no one for anything, but through the Word of God and praying the scriptures, God provided all that was needed daily.
I thought that after I read The Shack, I would just ignore that prompting, but He laid it so heavily on my heart...as though He knew I would try to ignore his initial prompting (DUH He knows everything already). So I found a free ebook online and printed the Autobiography of George Mueller. I don't even know what chapter I'm on. I've read about his life before Christ and he was a mess and steeped in sin. But around the age of 21 he was with a friend that was saved, but continued to backslide. This friend told Mueller he was on his way to a prayer meeting with a few men. Mueller, not understanding why he had such a great urge to go, asked if it would be okay for him to go along. It was at this meeting that Mueller saw for the first time a man get down on his knees to pray. This began the awakening in Mueller's life. He, over time, fully gave his life to Christ and began to head the voice of the Holy Spirit. I am at the point in the life story that he has become a pastor.
He tells about this one meeting of believing women and the women ask him what does he believe about believers baptism. He basically stated that he had been baptized at a young age and did not believe that one had to be or needed to be baptized again once becoming a believer. One of the women encouraged him to not give his opinion again until he searched the scriptures for clarity. Which he did and realized that the scriptures never say anything about being sprinkled with water, but did speak on being fully immersed in water after becoming a believer in Christ. He then tells about pulling out of the London Society. This was a group that basically stated who could or couldn't do missions, where they could go, who they could minister to, if they were eligible to even do so and so forth. He read the scriptures and could not find where man has the authority to direct another mans path concerning being a teacher, pastor, or missionary. Thus he pulled out of that group and heeded the voice of the Holy Spirit and went where He led him to go. He speaks about letting scripture confirm scripture, instead of taking mans word.
To some, these things may seem like common sense, but to one who is relearning how to walk with Christ fully dependent upon Him and Him alone, these teachings are a bit profound for me.
I know I have my trust issues, so I'm wondering if this is why the Lord led me to read about George Mueller. I don't know at this point so I will just continue to read and allow the Holy Spirit to stir within me things that have been dead or lay dormant for some time.
I am eager to see the path that God has laid out before me. The path that He wants me to follow. I know I will stray and fall and stumble, but I'm so confident now that even when I do, He is never far from me and will guide me back.
On another note, I have taken to calling God- Papa. As I read the book I felt that Papa was just such an intimate name. A name that resembled such closeness and familiarity, such as I have longed for all my life. It feels and sounds so natural and flows so easily. I love the sound and it feels so very intimate. I'm loving it. Another thing I'm loving is the presence of the Holy Spirit. I've always loved it, but didn't experience it as much as I have in this last week or so. It is so...I can't even describe it.
I'll keep you posted as the Lord continues to guide me and lead me.
In His Grip
11/21/2008
BFF
WARNING: BITS OF TMI (Too Much Information)
I think everyone is aware what BFF means in this day and age, but for those that may not, it stands for Best Friend Forever.
Last night when I got home from work, I headed straight for the restroom (as I do every evening when I get home) and my 3 children immediately followed close behind (as they do every evening when I get home). I don’t think I have had many alone times in the restroom since I became a mom. The bathroom seems to be one of the favorite places my children like to hang out and talk to me in (I have a dear friend that can relate, as this was one of the places she spent time talking to her mother in as well ;->), the kitchen is a close second.
Anyway, we got to talking and I was sharing with them a bit of my prayer time during my drive home and then I asked them if they saw God as loving, nurturing, and caring or as a king on a throne spewing out orders, rules, laws, judgments, and condemning people to hell.
Two of them said the king on the throne and one said something slightly close to loving and nurturing. My heart broke into a thousand pieces as I sat there and could completely relate and understand what they meant.
I’m grasping for straws as I sit there and I’m thinking, how can I explain this to them so that they can grasp it and comprehend what I so desperately want to convey? And I mumble a prayer, Lord help me.
The words spill forth. I first ask them if they can imagine God as a mother and they all say no. Then I said, picture a mom nursing her baby and as she is nursing she rubs his cheek and hair. She talks to him and sings to him. She holds his fingers or hand and cuddles him close to her. She gives him all of her attention and can only focus on him at this moment. She cherishes this and wouldn’t mind if it went on for some time. This is what God wants to do with each of His children. The only way He can do that is if we take the time to get to know Him and become His friend.
Akyra is a lot like me and it’s hard for her to make friends. Ari is the social butterfly and Adrian does ok. So I said Akyra, have you ever cried because you wanted a best friend so badly? It seemed that everyone but you had a best friend. Yes, was her reply. I said, imagine God sitting there crying because He gave His only Son for you and now He just wants to have a relationship with you but you don’t give Him the time of day. Then I had to back up. I said do either of you realize that if just one of you were the only person on earth Jesus would have still died for you? They all said no.
If YOU were the only person on this earth, God would have still given His Son for you and Jesus would have still paid the price just for YOU and YOU alone. This was the concept I too had trouble grasping at first. But when I finally GOT IT, I could understand a portion of His love for me. When you hear God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…that seems like something totally different and foreign. But when you hear God so loved (your name), that He gave His only Son…that makes it more intimate and personal. Anyway, they still are wrapping their brain around that one, but I go on.
God wants to be your best friend. The one you tell everything too, every day. He cries when you cry, He hurts when you hurt; He’s elated when you are happy, etc, etc. You all are searching for something I have searched for all my life and I had it all along and continued to overlook it daily or push it aside for a weak substitute.
Now I have 2 best friends in this world and I have a hand full of my dearest, dearest, friends; all of which are family to me. But I remember telling stories and T-A-L-L
Tales in school just hoping someone would like me and be my friend. Then I would get a friend and got angry if they claimed to be someone else’s friend. (childish I know)
And all the time God was standing by waiting patiently to be that BFF. I pushed Him aside time and time again, and yet He continued to wait. Now, as I am emerging with some understanding and clarity, I see my BFF was there all along.
Then they say God must be mean because He lets bad things happen to good people. I explain how God is not a dictator but a loving God that gave each of us freedom to make our own choices. I said now, when you make a choice that hurts me or one of your siblings, do you think God is bad then? No, they said. God allows us to make choices and sometimes those choices hurt others or Him, but He still lets us make the choice. But even when we make that choice, He is not far from us and waits for us to return to Him.
So the conversation continues like this for a while and there are teary eyes and then there is mama on the toilet just flat out crying. Then I just feel the presence of the Lord in the room with us and I begin to pray. I began to pray earnestly for my children and their father and a few other people, as God began to show me how they too were substituting people or things for that relationship that can only be completed in, with, and through Christ. I believe chains were broken last night and some heart healing is beginning to take place. We are in the place God wants us to be.
On another note, God has laid upon my heart to read the autobiography of George Mueller. He opened orphanages and didn’t ask for anything, but received everything by praying and allowing God to be the Master Orchestrator of seeing the needs met through others. Mind you, when Joseph first left, for the first year this is exactly what I did. I did not work, but prayed earnestly about everything and my bills were paid for a year. Ironically, it was after I started working and stopped praying so fervently that our lights were disconnected for a little over a month. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I think everyone is aware what BFF means in this day and age, but for those that may not, it stands for Best Friend Forever.
Last night when I got home from work, I headed straight for the restroom (as I do every evening when I get home) and my 3 children immediately followed close behind (as they do every evening when I get home). I don’t think I have had many alone times in the restroom since I became a mom. The bathroom seems to be one of the favorite places my children like to hang out and talk to me in (I have a dear friend that can relate, as this was one of the places she spent time talking to her mother in as well ;->), the kitchen is a close second.
Anyway, we got to talking and I was sharing with them a bit of my prayer time during my drive home and then I asked them if they saw God as loving, nurturing, and caring or as a king on a throne spewing out orders, rules, laws, judgments, and condemning people to hell.
Two of them said the king on the throne and one said something slightly close to loving and nurturing. My heart broke into a thousand pieces as I sat there and could completely relate and understand what they meant.
I’m grasping for straws as I sit there and I’m thinking, how can I explain this to them so that they can grasp it and comprehend what I so desperately want to convey? And I mumble a prayer, Lord help me.
The words spill forth. I first ask them if they can imagine God as a mother and they all say no. Then I said, picture a mom nursing her baby and as she is nursing she rubs his cheek and hair. She talks to him and sings to him. She holds his fingers or hand and cuddles him close to her. She gives him all of her attention and can only focus on him at this moment. She cherishes this and wouldn’t mind if it went on for some time. This is what God wants to do with each of His children. The only way He can do that is if we take the time to get to know Him and become His friend.
Akyra is a lot like me and it’s hard for her to make friends. Ari is the social butterfly and Adrian does ok. So I said Akyra, have you ever cried because you wanted a best friend so badly? It seemed that everyone but you had a best friend. Yes, was her reply. I said, imagine God sitting there crying because He gave His only Son for you and now He just wants to have a relationship with you but you don’t give Him the time of day. Then I had to back up. I said do either of you realize that if just one of you were the only person on earth Jesus would have still died for you? They all said no.
If YOU were the only person on this earth, God would have still given His Son for you and Jesus would have still paid the price just for YOU and YOU alone. This was the concept I too had trouble grasping at first. But when I finally GOT IT, I could understand a portion of His love for me. When you hear God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…that seems like something totally different and foreign. But when you hear God so loved (your name), that He gave His only Son…that makes it more intimate and personal. Anyway, they still are wrapping their brain around that one, but I go on.
God wants to be your best friend. The one you tell everything too, every day. He cries when you cry, He hurts when you hurt; He’s elated when you are happy, etc, etc. You all are searching for something I have searched for all my life and I had it all along and continued to overlook it daily or push it aside for a weak substitute.
Now I have 2 best friends in this world and I have a hand full of my dearest, dearest, friends; all of which are family to me. But I remember telling stories and T-A-L-L
Tales in school just hoping someone would like me and be my friend. Then I would get a friend and got angry if they claimed to be someone else’s friend. (childish I know)
And all the time God was standing by waiting patiently to be that BFF. I pushed Him aside time and time again, and yet He continued to wait. Now, as I am emerging with some understanding and clarity, I see my BFF was there all along.
Then they say God must be mean because He lets bad things happen to good people. I explain how God is not a dictator but a loving God that gave each of us freedom to make our own choices. I said now, when you make a choice that hurts me or one of your siblings, do you think God is bad then? No, they said. God allows us to make choices and sometimes those choices hurt others or Him, but He still lets us make the choice. But even when we make that choice, He is not far from us and waits for us to return to Him.
So the conversation continues like this for a while and there are teary eyes and then there is mama on the toilet just flat out crying. Then I just feel the presence of the Lord in the room with us and I begin to pray. I began to pray earnestly for my children and their father and a few other people, as God began to show me how they too were substituting people or things for that relationship that can only be completed in, with, and through Christ. I believe chains were broken last night and some heart healing is beginning to take place. We are in the place God wants us to be.
On another note, God has laid upon my heart to read the autobiography of George Mueller. He opened orphanages and didn’t ask for anything, but received everything by praying and allowing God to be the Master Orchestrator of seeing the needs met through others. Mind you, when Joseph first left, for the first year this is exactly what I did. I did not work, but prayed earnestly about everything and my bills were paid for a year. Ironically, it was after I started working and stopped praying so fervently that our lights were disconnected for a little over a month. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
11/20/2008
Trust
Prov. 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart...
I’ve been struggling with this portion of this verse for about a year and a half now, maybe a little longer. I would have to say it was after being separated from my husband for 4 ½ months and he declared he wanted to reconcile. Then after about 2 weeks he declared he did not. That is when my trust in the Lord started deteriorating. Then after the 2nd declaration of working on our marriage and then not, that really ripped my trust apart. My questions were: How could God allow this to happen now a 2nd time? What about my children? Didn’t He care that they were innocent? Didn’t He care that none of us asked for this? Didn’t He care at all?
I began to see God in light of what Joseph did or didn’t do. I completely forgot about Matthew 5:45 (To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].)
I also forgot that God is love. He doesn’t cause the bad, but He does allow it; just as He did with Job. He used this situation to grow me and stretch me and I have bucked it at every turn except the first year of my separation. Clearly how could He determine that this would be for my good? But His word is right when it says His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts; Isaiah 55:8.
I’m still not completely sure what the lesson is in all of this, I’m having to start all over learning how to trust Him again. I am seeing Him in a different light…as a father and not a king with a set of rules. Though He is the King of Kings and He does rule everything, He is not standing there with a stick ready and waiting to hit me over the head each time I break a rule. He does grieve when I go against His Word, but He’s not standing there ready to condemn me to hell.
Let me just be honest, in the last couple of years, I have been a rule keeper. Just obey the law and it will be well with me. If you don’t obey the law He is angry, and look out because you never know when He’ll cut your days short. Sadly, I’ve dealt this to my children. And try as they could, it was getting burdensome keeping all these rules.
But now I know something different. He loves me. He really loves me. Just as I love my children and want the best, so does He. Just as it hurts my heart when they disobey or buck my authority, so it is with Him. God has never really had my heart completely. I gave Him what I wanted Him to have but not all of it. We can NEVER fully be in line with the entire Bible. We are flawed. However, when we love God and are in such a close relationship with Him, it will grieve our hearts when we grieve Him. We will also willingly try to obey His commands, not live by them as though if we miss one we are condemned forever.
Am I making sense?
In a relationship it pleases us to please the one we are in relationship with. It grieves us when we hurt the one we are in relationship with. I never looked at it that way. I saw God with this iron fist, ready to pounce.
The Shack is NOT greater than the Bible, but it did help me to understand relationship better and to understand what it is that God tries to get across in many of the scriptures.
He just wants to have a relationship with us and then from that we will clearly be eager to obey His Word and not grudgingly, but lovingly and willingly.
I know this is long, but my heart was so full this morning. We’ll see where God is taking me. So far I am just cherishing what He has shown me thus far.
Oh to have child like faith.
Lord bless me with the faith of a child.
So eager to trust, so able to trust.
Not looking at the things around them,
but trusting that they will be taken care
of and all their needs met. When someone
is holding them, they don’t worry or fear
that they will be dropped, they just have
faith that the one holding them will continue
to do so. That they will receive love unconditional.
Help me Lord to have this kind of faith once again.
AMEN
I’ve been struggling with this portion of this verse for about a year and a half now, maybe a little longer. I would have to say it was after being separated from my husband for 4 ½ months and he declared he wanted to reconcile. Then after about 2 weeks he declared he did not. That is when my trust in the Lord started deteriorating. Then after the 2nd declaration of working on our marriage and then not, that really ripped my trust apart. My questions were: How could God allow this to happen now a 2nd time? What about my children? Didn’t He care that they were innocent? Didn’t He care that none of us asked for this? Didn’t He care at all?
I began to see God in light of what Joseph did or didn’t do. I completely forgot about Matthew 5:45 (To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].)
I also forgot that God is love. He doesn’t cause the bad, but He does allow it; just as He did with Job. He used this situation to grow me and stretch me and I have bucked it at every turn except the first year of my separation. Clearly how could He determine that this would be for my good? But His word is right when it says His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts; Isaiah 55:8.
I’m still not completely sure what the lesson is in all of this, I’m having to start all over learning how to trust Him again. I am seeing Him in a different light…as a father and not a king with a set of rules. Though He is the King of Kings and He does rule everything, He is not standing there with a stick ready and waiting to hit me over the head each time I break a rule. He does grieve when I go against His Word, but He’s not standing there ready to condemn me to hell.
Let me just be honest, in the last couple of years, I have been a rule keeper. Just obey the law and it will be well with me. If you don’t obey the law He is angry, and look out because you never know when He’ll cut your days short. Sadly, I’ve dealt this to my children. And try as they could, it was getting burdensome keeping all these rules.
But now I know something different. He loves me. He really loves me. Just as I love my children and want the best, so does He. Just as it hurts my heart when they disobey or buck my authority, so it is with Him. God has never really had my heart completely. I gave Him what I wanted Him to have but not all of it. We can NEVER fully be in line with the entire Bible. We are flawed. However, when we love God and are in such a close relationship with Him, it will grieve our hearts when we grieve Him. We will also willingly try to obey His commands, not live by them as though if we miss one we are condemned forever.
Am I making sense?
In a relationship it pleases us to please the one we are in relationship with. It grieves us when we hurt the one we are in relationship with. I never looked at it that way. I saw God with this iron fist, ready to pounce.
The Shack is NOT greater than the Bible, but it did help me to understand relationship better and to understand what it is that God tries to get across in many of the scriptures.
He just wants to have a relationship with us and then from that we will clearly be eager to obey His Word and not grudgingly, but lovingly and willingly.
I know this is long, but my heart was so full this morning. We’ll see where God is taking me. So far I am just cherishing what He has shown me thus far.
Oh to have child like faith.
Lord bless me with the faith of a child.
So eager to trust, so able to trust.
Not looking at the things around them,
but trusting that they will be taken care
of and all their needs met. When someone
is holding them, they don’t worry or fear
that they will be dropped, they just have
faith that the one holding them will continue
to do so. That they will receive love unconditional.
Help me Lord to have this kind of faith once again.
AMEN
11/19/2008
Ahhhhhh, a teachable moment.
As I sit here Lord, my heart is heavy. I don't know how to fully release Joseph to You. I don't know how to let him go. How do I walk away?
This has to do with that trust thing. I'm still holding on because I don't fully trust you or believe that you can or will work things out for my good. I still feel & believe that I know what is best for me and that I not only must show you, but then I must help you out.
This is part of my journal entry for today. I don't share for the sake of sharing, but someone reading may be in the same boat I'm in. While I'm sitting here wishing someone could help me, maybe I am supposed to be helping someone.
This is one of the things I discovered about myself while reading The Shack. (this is a link to someone's review...please read all the comments that follow after his review) I say I trust God but if I am honest with myself, I don't fully trust Him. My trust was so full 3 years ago or even 2 1/2 years ago. But then I got sidetracked, distracted, knocked off course, and my trust or faith (whichever you want to call it) went so low, I have trouble locating even a glimpse at times. My one question was...How could or would a God who loves His children continue to allow these things to happen. My children are innocent and yet they are in such pain and agony. None of us asked for this journey but we got it anyway. And so as I questioned, my trust ebbed away. A scheme of the enemy? You bet. Now I am struggling to regain ground. I opened the door and let him in and it's hell to get him out!!!! Believe that.
God doesn't want bad things to happen to His children. He's just like any parent. He wants the best for us all. But because He is not a dictator, He allows free will and we often choose things against His will for ourselves because we "think" we know what is best for us. However, He never leaves us even when we make choices that will take us off the path He has for us.
This is what I am struggling with. I've judged God by Joseph's actions. I've judge His love for me by Joseph's wavering love. I've judged His commitment to me by Joseph's lack of commitment.
Oh to have child like faith once again. To be enveloped in His arms and love like a little girl on her father's lap. Show me how to get back to that Lord. Show me how.
This has to do with that trust thing. I'm still holding on because I don't fully trust you or believe that you can or will work things out for my good. I still feel & believe that I know what is best for me and that I not only must show you, but then I must help you out.
This is part of my journal entry for today. I don't share for the sake of sharing, but someone reading may be in the same boat I'm in. While I'm sitting here wishing someone could help me, maybe I am supposed to be helping someone.
This is one of the things I discovered about myself while reading The Shack. (this is a link to someone's review...please read all the comments that follow after his review) I say I trust God but if I am honest with myself, I don't fully trust Him. My trust was so full 3 years ago or even 2 1/2 years ago. But then I got sidetracked, distracted, knocked off course, and my trust or faith (whichever you want to call it) went so low, I have trouble locating even a glimpse at times. My one question was...How could or would a God who loves His children continue to allow these things to happen. My children are innocent and yet they are in such pain and agony. None of us asked for this journey but we got it anyway. And so as I questioned, my trust ebbed away. A scheme of the enemy? You bet. Now I am struggling to regain ground. I opened the door and let him in and it's hell to get him out!!!! Believe that.
God doesn't want bad things to happen to His children. He's just like any parent. He wants the best for us all. But because He is not a dictator, He allows free will and we often choose things against His will for ourselves because we "think" we know what is best for us. However, He never leaves us even when we make choices that will take us off the path He has for us.
This is what I am struggling with. I've judged God by Joseph's actions. I've judge His love for me by Joseph's wavering love. I've judged His commitment to me by Joseph's lack of commitment.
Oh to have child like faith once again. To be enveloped in His arms and love like a little girl on her father's lap. Show me how to get back to that Lord. Show me how.
11/17/2008
The Shack by William P. Young
The Shack, a must read is the first thing I must say. My dear friend was telling me about this book as we were walking through Wal-Mart and then we came up on it. She stated that it had been given to her but she hadn’t read it yet. However, she was going to pay it forward for me, with the understanding that I pay it forward as well.
As I began to read the book, I pondered who I would share this book with. About mid-way through, God laid on my heart 2 people. One of which is my mother and the other, well I will share who that person is in a later blog.
I read and read and then it got to the point where I didn’t want to put the book down at all. I love to read and can read a good book in a day if I want, but with me working now, my reading time is a bit limited. So it took me a week to finish this book. Besides, this is not one of those books you want to rush through at all. You want the pages to go on forever, especially when he gets to the point of the celebration.
I cried, laughed, got excited, felt the characters joy and pain, and even saw my own Great Sadness and began a healing process. There were moments I had to put the book down and pray and cry those big torrential cries, the kind that are so cleansing. I had moments where I wanted to be alone with a certain portion of the book, so I ran to the bathroom for some alone time.
This book has helped to draw me closer to God like no book ever has and I had to keep reminding myself that it was a fictional story.
Anyway, I finished it. Told my children about it and now they want to read it. However, it was such a good book and I want to read it again, that I will begin reading it aloud to them tonight.
Angie, I can’t thank you enough for blessing me with this book. It has begun a healing process for me that no one, not even the counselor, had been able to breakthrough. It was as if FINALLY someone related to my pain. I am looking at my relationship with God with new eyes and a more open heart. Mack asked questions and made statements I’ve held in for so long. But now, it’s as if a new light has been illuminated and I see things so differently.
So, that may not be such a great review, but if you haven’t read the book, I HIGHLY suggest you head to the nearest bookstore or Wal-Mart and pick one up and then after reading it, pay it forward and share this book with others.
I too will be passing the blessing on, with one request that they pay it forward as well and after they finish, they won’t hesitate to pay it forward.
As I began to read the book, I pondered who I would share this book with. About mid-way through, God laid on my heart 2 people. One of which is my mother and the other, well I will share who that person is in a later blog.
I read and read and then it got to the point where I didn’t want to put the book down at all. I love to read and can read a good book in a day if I want, but with me working now, my reading time is a bit limited. So it took me a week to finish this book. Besides, this is not one of those books you want to rush through at all. You want the pages to go on forever, especially when he gets to the point of the celebration.
I cried, laughed, got excited, felt the characters joy and pain, and even saw my own Great Sadness and began a healing process. There were moments I had to put the book down and pray and cry those big torrential cries, the kind that are so cleansing. I had moments where I wanted to be alone with a certain portion of the book, so I ran to the bathroom for some alone time.
This book has helped to draw me closer to God like no book ever has and I had to keep reminding myself that it was a fictional story.
Anyway, I finished it. Told my children about it and now they want to read it. However, it was such a good book and I want to read it again, that I will begin reading it aloud to them tonight.
Angie, I can’t thank you enough for blessing me with this book. It has begun a healing process for me that no one, not even the counselor, had been able to breakthrough. It was as if FINALLY someone related to my pain. I am looking at my relationship with God with new eyes and a more open heart. Mack asked questions and made statements I’ve held in for so long. But now, it’s as if a new light has been illuminated and I see things so differently.
So, that may not be such a great review, but if you haven’t read the book, I HIGHLY suggest you head to the nearest bookstore or Wal-Mart and pick one up and then after reading it, pay it forward and share this book with others.
I too will be passing the blessing on, with one request that they pay it forward as well and after they finish, they won’t hesitate to pay it forward.
11/13/2008
Foul Mood
I am in a very ugly mood right now. Full of anger and resentment and I'm fighting it as best I know, prayer, worship music, and shortly I'll find a few scriptures to hold on to for the day. Isn't that just like the enemy, to "allow" you to be blessed in such a way and then he tries to steal it from you? I'm fighting it though. Check out my playlist for the songs that are ministering to me right now.
11/12/2008
The Roof is DONE!!!
Can you say amazing? Man, my family-friends arrived late Friday night. We woke up early Saturday morning and they got started and worked until the sun was no more and did a repeat on Sunday morning, but were finished long before the sun said good-night.
I was so under the impression that it took longer than that. You see the men working on roofs and they seem to be out there for almost a week and I just knew that this was going to be a LONG process. But with God and men who know what they are doing and then to have so many helping hands, you can only expect the best and in a timely fashion as well.
I am so grateful to them for all the hard work they did. They have truely been a blessing in my life and not just because of the roof. They have blessed me through their friendship. They are my family now and that's for keeps! ;-)
My dearest friends took pictures and promptly went home and did some digiscrap pages. Check our her blog to see them. For her first time digital scrapbooking, she did an amazing job. She takes some amazing pictures as well. She is so gifted, as are several of my other friends. I am truly blessed to have them as my dearest of dear friends.
I was so under the impression that it took longer than that. You see the men working on roofs and they seem to be out there for almost a week and I just knew that this was going to be a LONG process. But with God and men who know what they are doing and then to have so many helping hands, you can only expect the best and in a timely fashion as well.
I am so grateful to them for all the hard work they did. They have truely been a blessing in my life and not just because of the roof. They have blessed me through their friendship. They are my family now and that's for keeps! ;-)
My dearest friends took pictures and promptly went home and did some digiscrap pages. Check our her blog to see them. For her first time digital scrapbooking, she did an amazing job. She takes some amazing pictures as well. She is so gifted, as are several of my other friends. I am truly blessed to have them as my dearest of dear friends.
11/06/2008
This is good and a must read
What a wonderful day to see and behold. Election day, a black man crowned executive chief of the United States. Whether you are for his policies or against his policies, if you are black, you can't deny that there was a sense of accomplishment that we all could share in. It makes us feel that no level in this land is unreachable because of color. It proves to many that if we desire it, we can achieve it. It all looks and feels very good to any black person and it should. But there is much to be considered that comes with an accomplishment like this. When the celebration stops, we still have to deal with us and the mess that we have created in our communities.
Have we progressed as a people or did we just progress in the eyes of people? This landmark election event may have put us at the top for a minute, but the fact still remains, we have a long way to go. Now, we as a people must stand on our own 2 feet and make it regardless of racial barriers because Barack is proof that if you have what people want, your skin color doesn't matter. But I want us to examine this and understand that this election may have put one of us in office, but our families are still being destroyed because of immorality. We can chant blackness, throw up Barack hand signs, and be proud as we wanna be, but after the party is over, we are still 11 percent of the population and have the highest HIV death rate, murder rate, high school drop out rate, teen pregnancy rate, incarceration rate, abortion rate, etc. We have issues in our communities that many are looking for Barack to fix, but Barack is for some of the very things that are destroying us as a people. 1400 abortions everyday among blacks. Black women can't find good men because of homosexuality in the black community. We don't have the numbers that whites have so when our men turn gay, we lose fathers and husbands at an alarming rate. Add 1 million black men in the prison system and you have a lesbian firestorm in our communities because of the lack of good black men! And remember, Barack went to a church for 20 years that is gay friendly and even traveled with a gay pastor during his campaign earlier this year. This is why we should never look to the President for those kinds of things to be fixed. He is not God, he is a man. God is the only one that can intervene and fix this mess that we are in as a people.
Please people, do me a favor. Study the bible and get a good understanding of God's men. Understand who God supported in the bible and who he denounced. Understand who he was for and who he was against. You will see a pattern that is undeniable. When men killed the unborn or promoted homosexuality, did God use them? Has he ever? Why do we think that God is moving upon us as a people because we have a black president? Now understand, I'm proud of us as a race too, but I don't want us to jump in and drown just because we are in the big house now. I want you to take a good look at the bible and a good look at Obama's policies. Do they line up and should we put our faith in him?
We can be happy, but we still have an obligation to do better as a people. I see folks with grillz in their mouths chanting Obama. I see women with 6 kids by 7 different men, looking for their next baby daddy chanting Obama. I see preachers that are gay in secret and married in public chanting Obama. I see pastors that are sexually active with their own members chanting Obama! I see a nation of folks that are making very bad decisions in life walking around chanting Obama. The only thing these folks I'm talking about have in common with Barack is skin color and I'm sorry, but that's not enough to heal our communities. The bible says that "If my people, which are called by my name would humble themselves, pray, seek and then turn from their wicked ways...." He was not talking about an election people, that is a command to turn from your wicked ways. We can have an all Black White House and it will not stop the consequences of immorality! There is a price to be paid for sin and we cannot sit back and wait for Obama to pay it for us. Our people are perishing and we must do something quick or we will have a black president, but no black citizens!
Wake up America. Obama may look like the answer, but he is not. We don't need a person in position to point at and say "look what we did" We need our churches to stand up and say no to the gay agenda. We need pastors to say no to abortion and same sex unions. We need our men of God to stop standing behind Obama and start standing in front of him. He may be a leader in the natural, but in the spirit realm, God has the final say. This man is a President, not our daddy. He is not the missing father in your home. He is not the answer to your problems. He is not the savior for your sins. He is a man that was elected to public office and he needs leadership of strong men of God that can put racial prejudice behind them and show him God's way. But because many pastors backed him in spite of his immoral stances, so many of them have lost their opportunity to really be a light for him. So many just wanted to see him in office, that we forgot our greater obligation and that is to stand for righteousness at all costs. And as a people, we don't need to use this president as our trump card. We don't need to hold him up as our savior and answer. We don't need to feel like we are better now because we are not. We have a long way to go and if we don't turn from our wicked ways, and seek the face of God, we will yet be a slave to the system and be lost with a Black president in office.
Please people of God, pray. Not just for Obama, but for the mentality of our people of this nation. Obama could end up being the worst thing to ever happen to the black race if we continue on this path of unity in public but division in private. And though I don't agree with his stand on morals, I do hope he does a good job. But my confidence is not in man it is in Jesus. I urge believers to pray because America is sitting on a ticking time bomb. We are about to endure the rule of a very liberal congress and we as true Christians are going to have to fight like never before. And though we celebrate a black man in office, we must continue to fight his immoral policies and stand against the agenda of the antichrist. (please note, this is not calling Obama the antichrist)
2Chr. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Rev. 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev. 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev. 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev. 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Until He Comes,G. Craige Lewis
Have we progressed as a people or did we just progress in the eyes of people? This landmark election event may have put us at the top for a minute, but the fact still remains, we have a long way to go. Now, we as a people must stand on our own 2 feet and make it regardless of racial barriers because Barack is proof that if you have what people want, your skin color doesn't matter. But I want us to examine this and understand that this election may have put one of us in office, but our families are still being destroyed because of immorality. We can chant blackness, throw up Barack hand signs, and be proud as we wanna be, but after the party is over, we are still 11 percent of the population and have the highest HIV death rate, murder rate, high school drop out rate, teen pregnancy rate, incarceration rate, abortion rate, etc. We have issues in our communities that many are looking for Barack to fix, but Barack is for some of the very things that are destroying us as a people. 1400 abortions everyday among blacks. Black women can't find good men because of homosexuality in the black community. We don't have the numbers that whites have so when our men turn gay, we lose fathers and husbands at an alarming rate. Add 1 million black men in the prison system and you have a lesbian firestorm in our communities because of the lack of good black men! And remember, Barack went to a church for 20 years that is gay friendly and even traveled with a gay pastor during his campaign earlier this year. This is why we should never look to the President for those kinds of things to be fixed. He is not God, he is a man. God is the only one that can intervene and fix this mess that we are in as a people.
Please people, do me a favor. Study the bible and get a good understanding of God's men. Understand who God supported in the bible and who he denounced. Understand who he was for and who he was against. You will see a pattern that is undeniable. When men killed the unborn or promoted homosexuality, did God use them? Has he ever? Why do we think that God is moving upon us as a people because we have a black president? Now understand, I'm proud of us as a race too, but I don't want us to jump in and drown just because we are in the big house now. I want you to take a good look at the bible and a good look at Obama's policies. Do they line up and should we put our faith in him?
We can be happy, but we still have an obligation to do better as a people. I see folks with grillz in their mouths chanting Obama. I see women with 6 kids by 7 different men, looking for their next baby daddy chanting Obama. I see preachers that are gay in secret and married in public chanting Obama. I see pastors that are sexually active with their own members chanting Obama! I see a nation of folks that are making very bad decisions in life walking around chanting Obama. The only thing these folks I'm talking about have in common with Barack is skin color and I'm sorry, but that's not enough to heal our communities. The bible says that "If my people, which are called by my name would humble themselves, pray, seek and then turn from their wicked ways...." He was not talking about an election people, that is a command to turn from your wicked ways. We can have an all Black White House and it will not stop the consequences of immorality! There is a price to be paid for sin and we cannot sit back and wait for Obama to pay it for us. Our people are perishing and we must do something quick or we will have a black president, but no black citizens!
Wake up America. Obama may look like the answer, but he is not. We don't need a person in position to point at and say "look what we did" We need our churches to stand up and say no to the gay agenda. We need pastors to say no to abortion and same sex unions. We need our men of God to stop standing behind Obama and start standing in front of him. He may be a leader in the natural, but in the spirit realm, God has the final say. This man is a President, not our daddy. He is not the missing father in your home. He is not the answer to your problems. He is not the savior for your sins. He is a man that was elected to public office and he needs leadership of strong men of God that can put racial prejudice behind them and show him God's way. But because many pastors backed him in spite of his immoral stances, so many of them have lost their opportunity to really be a light for him. So many just wanted to see him in office, that we forgot our greater obligation and that is to stand for righteousness at all costs. And as a people, we don't need to use this president as our trump card. We don't need to hold him up as our savior and answer. We don't need to feel like we are better now because we are not. We have a long way to go and if we don't turn from our wicked ways, and seek the face of God, we will yet be a slave to the system and be lost with a Black president in office.
Please people of God, pray. Not just for Obama, but for the mentality of our people of this nation. Obama could end up being the worst thing to ever happen to the black race if we continue on this path of unity in public but division in private. And though I don't agree with his stand on morals, I do hope he does a good job. But my confidence is not in man it is in Jesus. I urge believers to pray because America is sitting on a ticking time bomb. We are about to endure the rule of a very liberal congress and we as true Christians are going to have to fight like never before. And though we celebrate a black man in office, we must continue to fight his immoral policies and stand against the agenda of the antichrist. (please note, this is not calling Obama the antichrist)
2Chr. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Rev. 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev. 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev. 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev. 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Until He Comes,G. Craige Lewis
New Chicks!!
My baby chicks have arrived and I go pick them up this evening.
We had 56 hens and 3 roosters a year or so ago, but as we let them free range, the dogs in the neighborhood got to them and plucked them up one by one (sometimes 3 by 3).
Well, we were given the opportunity to purchase some more when someone else was placing an order but didn't need the full minimum that had to be ordered.
They are exactly one day old and when K called to let me know they were here, you could hear them all in the background chirping.
So we are starting over. I will still allow them to free range...ONLY we have a smaller chicken pen on wheels that we will move them around the yard in. This will keep them safe from dogs, hawks, and other animals, but allow them to eat all the bugs and insects they want.
They won't start laying eggs for another 2-3 months, but I can't wait to have some fresh eggs again. In no way are store eggs good. Once you've had fresh eggs, you won't want the store bought kind. They just don't have the texture or flavor of fresh eggs.
We will add more hens as time goes by, this spring, the local feed store will be selling chicks and we'll pick up some then, but these will be laying eggs by then and we won't have to wait for the babies.
The children will be selling some of their eggs for their own spending money so if you are interested, let me know. They will be around $2 a dozen, but keep in mind they are fresh eggs.
Then be on the look out for another post announcing that we have sheep and goats. Yep, that's next. We will have meat, eggs, and milk to eat and drink, with the addition of a garden. Man, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! ;-)
We had 56 hens and 3 roosters a year or so ago, but as we let them free range, the dogs in the neighborhood got to them and plucked them up one by one (sometimes 3 by 3).
Well, we were given the opportunity to purchase some more when someone else was placing an order but didn't need the full minimum that had to be ordered.
They are exactly one day old and when K called to let me know they were here, you could hear them all in the background chirping.
So we are starting over. I will still allow them to free range...ONLY we have a smaller chicken pen on wheels that we will move them around the yard in. This will keep them safe from dogs, hawks, and other animals, but allow them to eat all the bugs and insects they want.
They won't start laying eggs for another 2-3 months, but I can't wait to have some fresh eggs again. In no way are store eggs good. Once you've had fresh eggs, you won't want the store bought kind. They just don't have the texture or flavor of fresh eggs.
We will add more hens as time goes by, this spring, the local feed store will be selling chicks and we'll pick up some then, but these will be laying eggs by then and we won't have to wait for the babies.
The children will be selling some of their eggs for their own spending money so if you are interested, let me know. They will be around $2 a dozen, but keep in mind they are fresh eggs.
Then be on the look out for another post announcing that we have sheep and goats. Yep, that's next. We will have meat, eggs, and milk to eat and drink, with the addition of a garden. Man, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! ;-)
Titus 2 Woman
Titus 2:3-5 says: Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
I have been searching for years now for that Titus 2 woman for my life. Always looking and never seeming to find her. Well, I spoke with my baby sister (she's not a baby, but well, she is to me) and she was telling me how she was doing some things differently and it had alot to do with me encouraging her to go to the scriptures to seek out truth. I also encouraged her to read a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Lies Women Believe .
She thanked me for speaking truth to her and not wavering to just give her what she wanted to hear.
That was extremely encouraging to me and then it dawned on me...Hey, I was being a Titus 2 Woman!!!!
However God wants to use me, I'm willing. He just did that one so smoothly. Most likely so I wouldn't get a big head and think more highly of myself than I ought. HA HA
Please share with me how you have been a Titus 2 Woman in someone else's life or how someone was a Titus 2 Woman in your life.
I have to say that most of the Titus 2 Women in my life have been younger than me...go figure!!!!! LOL
so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
I have been searching for years now for that Titus 2 woman for my life. Always looking and never seeming to find her. Well, I spoke with my baby sister (she's not a baby, but well, she is to me) and she was telling me how she was doing some things differently and it had alot to do with me encouraging her to go to the scriptures to seek out truth. I also encouraged her to read a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Lies Women Believe .
She thanked me for speaking truth to her and not wavering to just give her what she wanted to hear.
That was extremely encouraging to me and then it dawned on me...Hey, I was being a Titus 2 Woman!!!!
However God wants to use me, I'm willing. He just did that one so smoothly. Most likely so I wouldn't get a big head and think more highly of myself than I ought. HA HA
Please share with me how you have been a Titus 2 Woman in someone else's life or how someone was a Titus 2 Woman in your life.
I have to say that most of the Titus 2 Women in my life have been younger than me...go figure!!!!! LOL
Count down for a new roof
Well, tomorrow evening (night) the family that will do the roof will be here.
Saturday morning will be the day that demolition of the old will take place and a new roof will be erected.
WooHoo, we are all excited and ready to get a move on this. We are all tired of living in limbo, but we also know God has and is using this time to grow us.
We'll take pictures and hopefully post some.
Saturday morning will be the day that demolition of the old will take place and a new roof will be erected.
WooHoo, we are all excited and ready to get a move on this. We are all tired of living in limbo, but we also know God has and is using this time to grow us.
We'll take pictures and hopefully post some.
Hope
Yes, I am on a roll today.
I love how God just gives me tidbits here and there. The only difference this time is I am sharing them as He constantly instructs me.
Last night as we were on our way home from church, my son sitting in the back seat said "mom, Obama is president and I know you didn't vote for him, but does that mean if one day I wanted to, I could become president"? My response...ABSOLUTELY!!!
Now, I've told him this all 13 years of his life, nothing changed with that. But for a child to hear one thing and see another speaks volumes.
My son knows why I voted the way I did, but he never thought it possible for a man of his color to become anything close to president. Now he can hope and dream bigger than he has before.
So you may not have voted for him, may not believe as he does, but think of how many black boys (and girls) now believe that ANYTHING is achievable. Sometimes they just need to be able to see it tangibly to believe it.
I love how God just gives me tidbits here and there. The only difference this time is I am sharing them as He constantly instructs me.
Last night as we were on our way home from church, my son sitting in the back seat said "mom, Obama is president and I know you didn't vote for him, but does that mean if one day I wanted to, I could become president"? My response...ABSOLUTELY!!!
Now, I've told him this all 13 years of his life, nothing changed with that. But for a child to hear one thing and see another speaks volumes.
My son knows why I voted the way I did, but he never thought it possible for a man of his color to become anything close to president. Now he can hope and dream bigger than he has before.
So you may not have voted for him, may not believe as he does, but think of how many black boys (and girls) now believe that ANYTHING is achievable. Sometimes they just need to be able to see it tangibly to believe it.
Just an observation
Ok, you all know who I voted for, but someone said something on the radio yesterday as I was heading home that just made me stop and think and get very honest with myself.
Now during Bush’s 2 terms as our president, I prayed for him more times than I can count or remember, but not often enough.
And yes, we must pray for Obama; that he would hear from the Lord and follow Him, etc.
But I got curious. Sooooooooooooooooooooooo many have complained about what he did wrong and his father, they praise Clinton even though his morality went out the window. But instead of criticizing what he (Bush) did or did not do or how you disliked him, How many times did you pray for Bush?
How many times did you lift him up before the Throne and ask God to lead him and guide him, protect him, etc?
We are called to pray for those in authority. I challenge you to do that for Obama, our local, state, and national leaders. Stop complaining, fearing/trembling, and realize that God is still on the Throne. He didn’t leave when Obama was elected. He knows what He is doing. Stop leaning on your own understanding and trust that God will do what He said He would do and you as a child of God will be protected for He is our refuge!!!!
Now during Bush’s 2 terms as our president, I prayed for him more times than I can count or remember, but not often enough.
And yes, we must pray for Obama; that he would hear from the Lord and follow Him, etc.
But I got curious. Sooooooooooooooooooooooo many have complained about what he did wrong and his father, they praise Clinton even though his morality went out the window. But instead of criticizing what he (Bush) did or did not do or how you disliked him, How many times did you pray for Bush?
How many times did you lift him up before the Throne and ask God to lead him and guide him, protect him, etc?
We are called to pray for those in authority. I challenge you to do that for Obama, our local, state, and national leaders. Stop complaining, fearing/trembling, and realize that God is still on the Throne. He didn’t leave when Obama was elected. He knows what He is doing. Stop leaning on your own understanding and trust that God will do what He said He would do and you as a child of God will be protected for He is our refuge!!!!
How should we respod to the election?
I received this from a dear friend and wanted to share this with you all. I thought this was so very true and timely!
Tom Ascol:
My friend, Dr. Wyman Richardson, pastors FBC of Dawson, GA. He sent the following "True-False Test" to me yesterday. It is timely and very helpful in giving us perspective on the presidential election. Take the test, then ask yourself how you should respond to the election results.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.
Tom Ascol:
My friend, Dr. Wyman Richardson, pastors FBC of Dawson, GA. He sent the following "True-False Test" to me yesterday. It is timely and very helpful in giving us perspective on the presidential election. Take the test, then ask yourself how you should respond to the election results.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.
True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.
Analogy of why some Christians voted for Obama
We went to Bible Study last night at church and Pastor Evans has a Q/A session right before he begins his teaching. So you are able to write your questions out and he gives a biblical answer when warranted and if not warranted, a common sense answer.
Well, someone asked 2 questions. The first being her husband didn’t want to attend the church because he felt it was too large. Basically too many members and he felt the pastor should be able to know his members. I really liked the answer he gave and have to admit it as true. He said regardless to the size of the church, if the members are involved within the church, the size really becomes small. (I hope my repeating it is coming out like it should).
Anyway, he said when you have members that basically come to hear a message and leave and don’t desire to fellowship or get to know other members, then yes, you will not only see the number of members, but you’ll see it as large. He said it is not a Pastors job to “know” the members, but to teach them what God has instructed him to teach. God is the shepherd and He knows His sheep. Pastor Evans is not one of those stand-offish people. He talks with members, mingles, and is very sociable, as is his wife as well.
Now, why I find that to be true is this. I’ve taken 2 classes at the church and have gotten to know approx. 15-20 members. We see each other and it’s like seeing family. We are actually waiting on one of the ladies to close on her home and we will have a get together at her house and in the spring a cookout. After things are settled at my place, they want to come to the “country” and hang out (hopefully we will have all the animals then and the kids will have fun with that). Anyway, I’ve gone to LARGE churches and felt that disconnect, I’ve gone to SMALL churches and felt that same disconnect. So it’s not about the size (per Evans), it’s about the heart.
I know I am not doing his answer any justice so I will stop.
The second question was…Why would Christians vote for Obama knowing what he stands for? He explained one that we have the freedom to vote how we choose. He said, but let me try to help some of you understand. He said let’s pretend we are in America 150 years ago and we are all slaves. There is a candidate that says he will do away with slavery and make all things equal for everyone. The other candidate says he will outlaw abortion, gay rights/marriages, etc. (please don’t comment and say that these are not practical’s for that time period, I know.)
So he said to us now which candidate will you vote for? Needless to say, we all got it. He said MOST voted for him because he was black. However, a lot voted for him because he promised something that dealt with where they are at now economically. It didn’t make the other issues less important, but they could not even focus on them for focusing on their current circumstances. This, he said, also has a lot to do with their maturity in Christ. So instead of getting upset with them, it’s over, let’s get busy praying for God’s will and trusting that He is still on the throne.
Well, someone asked 2 questions. The first being her husband didn’t want to attend the church because he felt it was too large. Basically too many members and he felt the pastor should be able to know his members. I really liked the answer he gave and have to admit it as true. He said regardless to the size of the church, if the members are involved within the church, the size really becomes small. (I hope my repeating it is coming out like it should).
Anyway, he said when you have members that basically come to hear a message and leave and don’t desire to fellowship or get to know other members, then yes, you will not only see the number of members, but you’ll see it as large. He said it is not a Pastors job to “know” the members, but to teach them what God has instructed him to teach. God is the shepherd and He knows His sheep. Pastor Evans is not one of those stand-offish people. He talks with members, mingles, and is very sociable, as is his wife as well.
Now, why I find that to be true is this. I’ve taken 2 classes at the church and have gotten to know approx. 15-20 members. We see each other and it’s like seeing family. We are actually waiting on one of the ladies to close on her home and we will have a get together at her house and in the spring a cookout. After things are settled at my place, they want to come to the “country” and hang out (hopefully we will have all the animals then and the kids will have fun with that). Anyway, I’ve gone to LARGE churches and felt that disconnect, I’ve gone to SMALL churches and felt that same disconnect. So it’s not about the size (per Evans), it’s about the heart.
I know I am not doing his answer any justice so I will stop.
The second question was…Why would Christians vote for Obama knowing what he stands for? He explained one that we have the freedom to vote how we choose. He said, but let me try to help some of you understand. He said let’s pretend we are in America 150 years ago and we are all slaves. There is a candidate that says he will do away with slavery and make all things equal for everyone. The other candidate says he will outlaw abortion, gay rights/marriages, etc. (please don’t comment and say that these are not practical’s for that time period, I know.)
So he said to us now which candidate will you vote for? Needless to say, we all got it. He said MOST voted for him because he was black. However, a lot voted for him because he promised something that dealt with where they are at now economically. It didn’t make the other issues less important, but they could not even focus on them for focusing on their current circumstances. This, he said, also has a lot to do with their maturity in Christ. So instead of getting upset with them, it’s over, let’s get busy praying for God’s will and trusting that He is still on the throne.
11/05/2008
Interests or hobbies
Ok friends, I am curious. What interests do you have and would you be willing to show someone else how to do what you do?
I have a multitude of interests. I enjoy baking, spending time with my children, on and on.
Yet, there are a few other things I would like to try my hand at. I want to learn how to sew (not just basic stuff), quilt, digital scrapbooking, create my own website, photography, write books, play the guitar, harp, violin, and piano.
I better stop, the list could go on and on.
My children are interested in several of these things as well.
So my question is, if any of you reading this post know how to do any of the above, would you be interested in teaching me or anyone in my family? We don't learn fast, so patience is a must. Oh and for those things that require a computer, well, ours is from the dinosaur age and runs really slow. Let's see and as for the photography, well, our camera just died. And since the children don't read my blog, I can tell you that prayerfully they are getting a guitar, violin, and new cameras for Christmas. I would like to say that I am getting my laptop, but that doesn't look like it will happen until after my tubal reversal.
Thanks bunches to all...
I have a multitude of interests. I enjoy baking, spending time with my children, on and on.
Yet, there are a few other things I would like to try my hand at. I want to learn how to sew (not just basic stuff), quilt, digital scrapbooking, create my own website, photography, write books, play the guitar, harp, violin, and piano.
I better stop, the list could go on and on.
My children are interested in several of these things as well.
So my question is, if any of you reading this post know how to do any of the above, would you be interested in teaching me or anyone in my family? We don't learn fast, so patience is a must. Oh and for those things that require a computer, well, ours is from the dinosaur age and runs really slow. Let's see and as for the photography, well, our camera just died. And since the children don't read my blog, I can tell you that prayerfully they are getting a guitar, violin, and new cameras for Christmas. I would like to say that I am getting my laptop, but that doesn't look like it will happen until after my tubal reversal.
Thanks bunches to all...
History has been made!
Well history has been made. We have our first black president in office, something I never thought I would see in my life time.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless to who you voted for, please understand and remember that this president has no power that God does not give him. He has no authority that God has not ordained for him. And when it is all said and done, God is still in control!
Of course as you know, from my previous post, the candidate I chose did not get elected. But I am honored to live within a democracy where we can all freely vote. I keep in mind that I am not held accountable by man for the way I voted, but by God. I also am reminded that no matter what Obama does during his term, God will hold him accountable for how he leads HIS people.
Does Obama stand for all that I believe in? No.
Does Obama stand for all that God spoke in His Word? No.
But guess what, neither did or does McCain.
However, as a Christian, I can stand up for God's truths. We can no longer be passive Christians, sitting by and just allowing the world to move around us while we stay huddled within our safe congregations and belief systems. We did that and prayer was removed from schools. We did that and gay marriages are taking place. We did that and parental rights are being challanged. We must stand for God's truths and do all we can to let His light shine.
So whether your candidate won yesterday or not, remain humble and put all hope in God, not in man. We must do what we can for the one who was elected. We can pray. Please join me in 77 days of prayer for Obama up until his inauguartion. Lets not stop there, lets continue to pray for him throughout his presidency. We need a leader who will turn his heart to God and will listen and do all God directs him to do. Otherwise, whoever the leader would have been or is, still fails miserably if they aren't following God.
Let us all remember that it is IN GOD we still trust. No man can turn America around without Him. God can use any man He chooses for His will and purpose and that includes you and me, and it includes our president.
What should we all be praying for, first check out Daniel 9:3-19
Then check out what John Piper had to say about these elections.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless to who you voted for, please understand and remember that this president has no power that God does not give him. He has no authority that God has not ordained for him. And when it is all said and done, God is still in control!
Of course as you know, from my previous post, the candidate I chose did not get elected. But I am honored to live within a democracy where we can all freely vote. I keep in mind that I am not held accountable by man for the way I voted, but by God. I also am reminded that no matter what Obama does during his term, God will hold him accountable for how he leads HIS people.
Does Obama stand for all that I believe in? No.
Does Obama stand for all that God spoke in His Word? No.
But guess what, neither did or does McCain.
However, as a Christian, I can stand up for God's truths. We can no longer be passive Christians, sitting by and just allowing the world to move around us while we stay huddled within our safe congregations and belief systems. We did that and prayer was removed from schools. We did that and gay marriages are taking place. We did that and parental rights are being challanged. We must stand for God's truths and do all we can to let His light shine.
So whether your candidate won yesterday or not, remain humble and put all hope in God, not in man. We must do what we can for the one who was elected. We can pray. Please join me in 77 days of prayer for Obama up until his inauguartion. Lets not stop there, lets continue to pray for him throughout his presidency. We need a leader who will turn his heart to God and will listen and do all God directs him to do. Otherwise, whoever the leader would have been or is, still fails miserably if they aren't following God.
Let us all remember that it is IN GOD we still trust. No man can turn America around without Him. God can use any man He chooses for His will and purpose and that includes you and me, and it includes our president.
What should we all be praying for, first check out Daniel 9:3-19
Then check out what John Piper had to say about these elections.
11/04/2008
November 4 - Election Day!
WARNING: Do NOT take this opportunity to bash me.
If at any point you have an issue with how I voted, please take that up with Jesus!
Well, the day has finally arrived. The candidates have been on this trail for at least the last 2 years and it all comes down to 1 day and millions of voters.
Either way it goes, whoever becomes President; this day will go down in history. The first woman holding the office of Vice-President or the first black holding the office of President.
I casted my vote this morning and am glad to have gotten that over with. I am most grateful for the opportunity and privilege to vote and don’t take it for granted one bit, but I am obnoxiously glad that this day is here period. I’m tired of all the slander and back-biting, and lies that always circulate around during any kind of election time.
Some have asked how I would vote, others just sent emails that assumed they knew how I would vote (sometimes to the point of offense).
I can say that when I first started exercising my right to vote, I didn’t pay attention to all the news and mud slinging that would go on. I voted for whom I “liked”. Well, I have to say I have matured much in many areas, to include politics. I won’t profess to know everything about politics, but I’ve learned to pay attention and to do my best to find out what the candidates really stand for.
So, I voted my beliefs, convictions, values, and principals. It is my duty to vote this way as a Christian. I am well aware that no one candidate completely represents God. But I feel at peace with the one I voted for.
I am also very aware that the majority (please note I did NOT say everyone) of the black community may be voting for Obama. Unfortunately I believe that most of them are looking at the color of his skin and I think this is a great injustice. Many are not voting McCain because he of what Bush has done or the Republican Party (holding one man accountable for what another does or did)and still I think of this as a great injustice.
What do they stand for? What are their beliefs? What are the issues they stand behind? What morals or values do they uphold?
When I broke it down in this manner, I had a hard time considering voting for Obama. Financial and economic issues are an extremely important matter to me, but the sanctity of life and marriage, I believe are the foundation of it all. I believe that God will honor that. And getting the greedy out and stop over spending will be a plus in the right direction of the financial woes/economics…I didn’t say it would solve it but it is a start. I also took into consideration that several Supreme Court Judges would be elected during this term. Fact has it that the judges are usually chosen based on the beliefs of the current president. I have a lot at stake raising children in the land of the free. When speaking out against what God calls wrong could/would become a crime, I can’t vote for someone that leans in that direction. So that was another deciding factor. Now of course there were many, many, more but if I name them all my post would take you a few hours to read…so those are just a few.
However, if it all came down to one thing, AMERICA has gotten far from God and continuing to remove Him from more of our structure is NOT going to make things better, I don’t care who the president is.
So my bottom line is this, regardless to which you voted for, God is in control. None of this will catch Him by surprise and He doesn’t look at the outward appearance of any of the candidates. He will also use whoever is president as the tool with which to accomplish what He wrote out before time existed.
On that note, I voted for McCain. May the man God choose be the one that will fall on his knees, repent/confess, and turn from his ways and back to God. May he lead this country back towards God, that we may sincerely ask God to bless America and He will hear us and do just that. Otherwise, if the next president goes out on his own or tries to please the people rather than God, we are all in for a bumpy ride of judgment.
If at any point you have an issue with how I voted, please take that up with Jesus!
Well, the day has finally arrived. The candidates have been on this trail for at least the last 2 years and it all comes down to 1 day and millions of voters.
Either way it goes, whoever becomes President; this day will go down in history. The first woman holding the office of Vice-President or the first black holding the office of President.
I casted my vote this morning and am glad to have gotten that over with. I am most grateful for the opportunity and privilege to vote and don’t take it for granted one bit, but I am obnoxiously glad that this day is here period. I’m tired of all the slander and back-biting, and lies that always circulate around during any kind of election time.
Some have asked how I would vote, others just sent emails that assumed they knew how I would vote (sometimes to the point of offense).
I can say that when I first started exercising my right to vote, I didn’t pay attention to all the news and mud slinging that would go on. I voted for whom I “liked”. Well, I have to say I have matured much in many areas, to include politics. I won’t profess to know everything about politics, but I’ve learned to pay attention and to do my best to find out what the candidates really stand for.
So, I voted my beliefs, convictions, values, and principals. It is my duty to vote this way as a Christian. I am well aware that no one candidate completely represents God. But I feel at peace with the one I voted for.
I am also very aware that the majority (please note I did NOT say everyone) of the black community may be voting for Obama. Unfortunately I believe that most of them are looking at the color of his skin and I think this is a great injustice. Many are not voting McCain because he of what Bush has done or the Republican Party (holding one man accountable for what another does or did)and still I think of this as a great injustice.
What do they stand for? What are their beliefs? What are the issues they stand behind? What morals or values do they uphold?
When I broke it down in this manner, I had a hard time considering voting for Obama. Financial and economic issues are an extremely important matter to me, but the sanctity of life and marriage, I believe are the foundation of it all. I believe that God will honor that. And getting the greedy out and stop over spending will be a plus in the right direction of the financial woes/economics…I didn’t say it would solve it but it is a start. I also took into consideration that several Supreme Court Judges would be elected during this term. Fact has it that the judges are usually chosen based on the beliefs of the current president. I have a lot at stake raising children in the land of the free. When speaking out against what God calls wrong could/would become a crime, I can’t vote for someone that leans in that direction. So that was another deciding factor. Now of course there were many, many, more but if I name them all my post would take you a few hours to read…so those are just a few.
However, if it all came down to one thing, AMERICA has gotten far from God and continuing to remove Him from more of our structure is NOT going to make things better, I don’t care who the president is.
So my bottom line is this, regardless to which you voted for, God is in control. None of this will catch Him by surprise and He doesn’t look at the outward appearance of any of the candidates. He will also use whoever is president as the tool with which to accomplish what He wrote out before time existed.
On that note, I voted for McCain. May the man God choose be the one that will fall on his knees, repent/confess, and turn from his ways and back to God. May he lead this country back towards God, that we may sincerely ask God to bless America and He will hear us and do just that. Otherwise, if the next president goes out on his own or tries to please the people rather than God, we are all in for a bumpy ride of judgment.
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