Yesterday I mentioned to a very dear & lovely friend that I might start a devotional blog. I really didn't give it much more thought after that...Until today.
As I sat for my quiet time...which wasn't very long (I leave work early on Wed. and have a shorter lunch time), I felt an urging to do just that.
It's titled Quiet Time and I will jot down my quite time moments with the Lord. I pray they become like devotionals to you. Maybe there will be one you think a friend or loved one needs to read. I pray they are encouraging and point you back to the Father.
Who knows, one day all my quiet time experiences may actually become a book. Only God knows and only time will tell. Check it out and be blessed...Quiet Time
12/31/2008
Marriages Under Attack!
2008 has been a hard year for all of us with the economy going hay-wire and the job and housing market flopping. But I also realized that 2008 for some of my dearest friends and many others I don't know, marriages are under attack.
Please join me in prayer for your marriage, others marriages, and soon to be marriages. If some of our greatest Christians are falling prey to divorce, who knows what else will come about!
The enemy is after marriages because that is the building block of our society. If he can cause marriages to deteriorate then he has enough of an edge to begin to tear down the children and that then branches off into our neighborhoods, etc.
If you know of someone struggling in their marriage...first do NOT tell them you understand. Those are some of the most dreaded words, because even if you've been through marital troubles, you still aren't walking in their shoes. Even though prayer is the BEST thing you can do for them, don't say it, just ask them if there is anything you can do for them and then if it's within your power...DO IT. Maybe after a short time, you can let them know you are & have been praying for them.
Then, if at all possible, include the friend and children if they have any to your home or some of your outings. There will be times when that friend will want some alone time, take their children for the day.
For me, one of the worst feelings is being shut out of peoples lives because my marital status was in transition. It was like we had the plague.
If you've joined with me to fast(from breakfast & lunch)/pray on Tue./Thur., please lets make one day about you, your family, your circumstances and the other day for others.
We must cry out to the Lord for each other, the world isn't going to cry out for us!!!
Please join me in prayer for your marriage, others marriages, and soon to be marriages. If some of our greatest Christians are falling prey to divorce, who knows what else will come about!
The enemy is after marriages because that is the building block of our society. If he can cause marriages to deteriorate then he has enough of an edge to begin to tear down the children and that then branches off into our neighborhoods, etc.
If you know of someone struggling in their marriage...first do NOT tell them you understand. Those are some of the most dreaded words, because even if you've been through marital troubles, you still aren't walking in their shoes. Even though prayer is the BEST thing you can do for them, don't say it, just ask them if there is anything you can do for them and then if it's within your power...DO IT. Maybe after a short time, you can let them know you are & have been praying for them.
Then, if at all possible, include the friend and children if they have any to your home or some of your outings. There will be times when that friend will want some alone time, take their children for the day.
For me, one of the worst feelings is being shut out of peoples lives because my marital status was in transition. It was like we had the plague.
If you've joined with me to fast(from breakfast & lunch)/pray on Tue./Thur., please lets make one day about you, your family, your circumstances and the other day for others.
We must cry out to the Lord for each other, the world isn't going to cry out for us!!!
12/30/2008
Isn't it...
beautiful to hear the Lord speak to your heart?!
Well, this morning I drank a sprite when I am supposed to be fasting. No problem...Lord please forgive me and bless the remainder of my time of fasting.
Lunch hour, I started out not really knowing where to begin. I prayed for God to be all over that hour with Him. I then began by reading some devotionals I received this morning. Good, but the Spirit didn't cause my heart to quicken. Oh the devotionals were wonderful and true and right on time. Hmmmmmmmm, did I say they didn't quicken my heart? God used them to get me where he wanted me. One spoke of spiritual curfews and why we must be obedient to the Word of God. The other was about being hungry for the Word of God. So as I prayed for myself, I also prayed for my children to desire and hunger for the Lord. I watch them walk around and they are so luke-warm to His Word. I prayed they would have a fire, zeal, longing for God and His Word; that they would remember what they once had and want that and more.
So then I'm just sitting there and I said Lord, I don't even know how to pray or what to pray right now. I've prayed over my "list", Nicole's "list", and Yvette's "list", Angie's "list", but it just isn't enough. Father you know our desires, you gave them to us. You know our hearts far better than even we do. You know what we long for. Your Word says it will not return void. You are not a man that You can lie. IF you gave us Proverbs 31 as an example to strive for and you gave us Titus 2 as well, then you will have to make it come to pass.
The tears began to flow...why Lord would you give us these desires if You did not intend to fulfill them? Why would You allow us to be tormented by these desires?
Then I just sat there listening to CeCe Winans, Throne Room (look up the words if you don't know them).
Enter into another place!!!!
Again I'm sitting there. Ok, Lord now what do You want from me? Look in my bag and pull out A Woman after God's Own Heart, by Elizabeth George. Ok, start reading but I really don't have much time left. I get to the 3rd page and SOMETHING jumps out at me. She wrote...
I was also comforted about my own life. After all, God knows the desires of my heart--indeed, He has put them there (Psalm 37:4)! I got no further than that. Joy leaped within me and the Holy Spirit quickened my heart. I looked up Psalm 37:4 and read it. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Then I read verse 3 & 5. MAN!!! I began to journal and this is what I wrote
As I sit & read A Woman after God's Own Heart, she mentions that God knows the desires of our hearts...He put them there. This has given me great comfort & I had just prayed along these same lines. God I know you hear me and I'm on your heart. These desires come from You and if they come from You, You will see them come to pass. Forgive me for my doubt, unbelief, & impatience to see the fruit You've promised. Give me comfort & strength as I wait for the Lord.
The word WAIT jumped out at me, so I looked it up in the back of my Bible to see what I could find. Ps. 27:14, 130:5, Is. 30:18, Acts 1:4, Rom 8:23 (wait eagerly), Tit. 2:13 (wait for the blessed hope). Please read a verse or two before or after the ones I've listed
My dear sisters, if we wait eagerly, yet patiently, expectantly on the Lord, He will cause our desires to come to pass. He is NOT a man that He should lie. He would not give us desires that are biblical and then torment us and not allow us to taste the fruit. Your desire Yvette to be in a church home where His Word is lived and taught is biblical, healing is biblical. Our desire to hear from Him is biblical. Nicole, our desires to be home with our family is biblical. Our desires for children is biblical. To have His wisdom and walk in His path, it is all biblical. So guess what, the desires we have are all from Him, found in His Word, and He will make them come to pass. The desires we have are not carnal and worldly...The world doesn't think those thoughts.
Oh but the waiting...is not easy. It will get hard and we will doubt, we will even give up. But I praise God for each of you; even when it sounds like I am whining...and I usually am, you each lovingly point me back to the Savior!!!!
I thank God for you daily, we are all disciples of the Lord and we encourage one another. I give thanks and praise for you.
I pray this has encouraged you as much as it has me. Wait on the Lord!!!!
Well, this morning I drank a sprite when I am supposed to be fasting. No problem...Lord please forgive me and bless the remainder of my time of fasting.
Lunch hour, I started out not really knowing where to begin. I prayed for God to be all over that hour with Him. I then began by reading some devotionals I received this morning. Good, but the Spirit didn't cause my heart to quicken. Oh the devotionals were wonderful and true and right on time. Hmmmmmmmm, did I say they didn't quicken my heart? God used them to get me where he wanted me. One spoke of spiritual curfews and why we must be obedient to the Word of God. The other was about being hungry for the Word of God. So as I prayed for myself, I also prayed for my children to desire and hunger for the Lord. I watch them walk around and they are so luke-warm to His Word. I prayed they would have a fire, zeal, longing for God and His Word; that they would remember what they once had and want that and more.
So then I'm just sitting there and I said Lord, I don't even know how to pray or what to pray right now. I've prayed over my "list", Nicole's "list", and Yvette's "list", Angie's "list", but it just isn't enough. Father you know our desires, you gave them to us. You know our hearts far better than even we do. You know what we long for. Your Word says it will not return void. You are not a man that You can lie. IF you gave us Proverbs 31 as an example to strive for and you gave us Titus 2 as well, then you will have to make it come to pass.
The tears began to flow...why Lord would you give us these desires if You did not intend to fulfill them? Why would You allow us to be tormented by these desires?
Then I just sat there listening to CeCe Winans, Throne Room (look up the words if you don't know them).
Enter into another place!!!!
Again I'm sitting there. Ok, Lord now what do You want from me? Look in my bag and pull out A Woman after God's Own Heart, by Elizabeth George. Ok, start reading but I really don't have much time left. I get to the 3rd page and SOMETHING jumps out at me. She wrote...
I was also comforted about my own life. After all, God knows the desires of my heart--indeed, He has put them there (Psalm 37:4)! I got no further than that. Joy leaped within me and the Holy Spirit quickened my heart. I looked up Psalm 37:4 and read it. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Then I read verse 3 & 5. MAN!!! I began to journal and this is what I wrote
As I sit & read A Woman after God's Own Heart, she mentions that God knows the desires of our hearts...He put them there. This has given me great comfort & I had just prayed along these same lines. God I know you hear me and I'm on your heart. These desires come from You and if they come from You, You will see them come to pass. Forgive me for my doubt, unbelief, & impatience to see the fruit You've promised. Give me comfort & strength as I wait for the Lord.
The word WAIT jumped out at me, so I looked it up in the back of my Bible to see what I could find. Ps. 27:14, 130:5, Is. 30:18, Acts 1:4, Rom 8:23 (wait eagerly), Tit. 2:13 (wait for the blessed hope). Please read a verse or two before or after the ones I've listed
My dear sisters, if we wait eagerly, yet patiently, expectantly on the Lord, He will cause our desires to come to pass. He is NOT a man that He should lie. He would not give us desires that are biblical and then torment us and not allow us to taste the fruit. Your desire Yvette to be in a church home where His Word is lived and taught is biblical, healing is biblical. Our desire to hear from Him is biblical. Nicole, our desires to be home with our family is biblical. Our desires for children is biblical. To have His wisdom and walk in His path, it is all biblical. So guess what, the desires we have are all from Him, found in His Word, and He will make them come to pass. The desires we have are not carnal and worldly...The world doesn't think those thoughts.
Oh but the waiting...is not easy. It will get hard and we will doubt, we will even give up. But I praise God for each of you; even when it sounds like I am whining...and I usually am, you each lovingly point me back to the Savior!!!!
I thank God for you daily, we are all disciples of the Lord and we encourage one another. I give thanks and praise for you.
I pray this has encouraged you as much as it has me. Wait on the Lord!!!!
12/29/2008
Christmas 2008
It went by so quickly! We enjoyed a quiet day. We did make a cake and sung happy birthday to Jesus. We didn't get around to cookies that day. I did cook, but my children's father took us to IHOP instead. That was fun and relaxing. We then went back to the house and played a couple of games and stayed up way too late.
Overall, it was a beautiful day. The weather was wonderful and the children stayed outside most of the day...something they enjoy but don't get to do much now that I'm working.
I was off for 4 glorious days and I enjoyed every minute of it. The day after Christmas, I stayed in bed ALL day long. I needed that time to just relax and have some down time. I really needed it. By Saturday evening, I had detoxed from having to come to work and got some things done that needed doing. As of Sunday, I had lesson plans made out and saved to my flash drive to be printed out later. We still don't have our foreign language program, but hopefully by Feb. either way it goes, school will be in full swing come 1/5/09!!!
Overall, it was a beautiful day. The weather was wonderful and the children stayed outside most of the day...something they enjoy but don't get to do much now that I'm working.
I was off for 4 glorious days and I enjoyed every minute of it. The day after Christmas, I stayed in bed ALL day long. I needed that time to just relax and have some down time. I really needed it. By Saturday evening, I had detoxed from having to come to work and got some things done that needed doing. As of Sunday, I had lesson plans made out and saved to my flash drive to be printed out later. We still don't have our foreign language program, but hopefully by Feb. either way it goes, school will be in full swing come 1/5/09!!!
2008...almost over!
It’s hard to believe that 2008 is almost over. When I was a little girl, I could not imagine ever getting to 2000 and here we are almost into 2009. Time seems to go by faster and faster. We start off a new year and before we can blink our eyes too good or rather, before we can get to comfortable, the year is coming to an end and we’re bringing in a new one.
I for one did not accomplish everything I had set out to accomplish. My walk with the Lord is not as deep as I had hoped and my goals are not completed. Nevertheless, I am still alive and unless the Lord has something different written for my life, I have the new year to look forward to as a new beginning.
Only God knows what tomorrow or the New Year will bring, but I do know who holds it all in His hands. My only resolutions for the New Year are to walk closer with God, to continuously steer my children to the Savior, and be a light to others. I pray that you don’t get caught up in resolutions that focus on you as an individual, but you as it relates to your walk with Christ.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I for one did not accomplish everything I had set out to accomplish. My walk with the Lord is not as deep as I had hoped and my goals are not completed. Nevertheless, I am still alive and unless the Lord has something different written for my life, I have the new year to look forward to as a new beginning.
Only God knows what tomorrow or the New Year will bring, but I do know who holds it all in His hands. My only resolutions for the New Year are to walk closer with God, to continuously steer my children to the Savior, and be a light to others. I pray that you don’t get caught up in resolutions that focus on you as an individual, but you as it relates to your walk with Christ.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
12/28/2008
2 Timothy 1:1-11...is your fire still going for the Lord?
How to tell if your fire is dying for the Lord
1. You neglect the Word of God
2. Your prayer life changes
3. Your church attendance changes
4. You give occasionally
5. You stop listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit
How to renew or rekindle your fire for the Lord
1. Be aware of where you are in your walk with God
2. Recall where you were when you were fired up for God
3. Repent of the things that have caused a void in your relationship with the Lord
4. Refocus your attention on the things of God
5. Read the Word of God, even if you start off by reading the short books of the Bible. Or read one Proverbs that correlates with the day of the month.
6. Prayer…begin to commune with God daily.
7. Get involved in the lives of others
8. Rely upon the Holy Spirit to enable you to do all of the above.
I shared this because I like many of you feel like my fire for the Lord has died out. I am not where I want to be, nor am I where I used to be, but I’m on my way. My heart is so void and I continue to try to fill that void with things and people, thus drawing my heart further and further from God. However, the void in my heart or your heart was only meant for the Lord God Almighty!!! Let’s each allow Him to fill the one spot in our hearts and lives meant for only Him.
1. You neglect the Word of God
2. Your prayer life changes
3. Your church attendance changes
4. You give occasionally
5. You stop listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit
How to renew or rekindle your fire for the Lord
1. Be aware of where you are in your walk with God
2. Recall where you were when you were fired up for God
3. Repent of the things that have caused a void in your relationship with the Lord
4. Refocus your attention on the things of God
5. Read the Word of God, even if you start off by reading the short books of the Bible. Or read one Proverbs that correlates with the day of the month.
6. Prayer…begin to commune with God daily.
7. Get involved in the lives of others
8. Rely upon the Holy Spirit to enable you to do all of the above.
I shared this because I like many of you feel like my fire for the Lord has died out. I am not where I want to be, nor am I where I used to be, but I’m on my way. My heart is so void and I continue to try to fill that void with things and people, thus drawing my heart further and further from God. However, the void in my heart or your heart was only meant for the Lord God Almighty!!! Let’s each allow Him to fill the one spot in our hearts and lives meant for only Him.
12/23/2008
Tough Love
Would some of you leave me a comment and tell me your feelings about Tough Love?
I've been doing some reading and I'm just a little curious. Afterwards, I'll post
again and share what I read, then you can comment on that too. LOL
ADDENDUM: Ok, I was reading this book that said tough love was not Biblical. It referred to the passage that says Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Now I've never called it tough love, but I have said there are consequences for all actions; some good and some not so good. The consequences don't change my level of love, but I think it expresses my love. If I did not love, I would not allow for any consequences for any behavior.
Thank you all for your input!!! I appreciate your perspectives.
I've been doing some reading and I'm just a little curious. Afterwards, I'll post
again and share what I read, then you can comment on that too. LOL
ADDENDUM: Ok, I was reading this book that said tough love was not Biblical. It referred to the passage that says Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Now I've never called it tough love, but I have said there are consequences for all actions; some good and some not so good. The consequences don't change my level of love, but I think it expresses my love. If I did not love, I would not allow for any consequences for any behavior.
Thank you all for your input!!! I appreciate your perspectives.
12/22/2008
Lazy Monday
Oh how I wish I were home with my children. It's so cold outside and I have many things I would love to be doing right now. However, I'm here at work, the children are home finishing up Christmas gift projects, and I'll go home this evening and call it an early night.
Christmas is just 3 days away and for the FIRST time ever, I'm not dashing about worrying about getting gifts and such. Finances have caused us to put our gift exchange on hold till January of '09. So on Christmas day, we will mostly focus on Jesus and being together as a family. We'll read about Jesus birth in the Bible, make cookies, drink cocoa, watch movies, SLEEP ;-), and talk. I have no idea what kind of meal we will have. I don't know what I want to cook. No one in my house wants turkey this year. I've got my New Year's meal planned, but no ideas cross my mind for Christmas!!!
I've gotten lots of great ideas for our Christmas' to come (if the Lord says the same). I had planned to do 3 gifts for each child and then after talking to several ladies and finding out that they do this because the Bible mentions 3 gifts that Christ received, I have decided that we will be switching to this as well. This will cause me to think carefully about the gifts I want to give them and make them really meaningful gifts. Everyone knows that books are my all time favorite, so my children will get a book to add to their collection. I want them to have books from days gone by, but that they will love to read over and over again. We'll also start a Christmas stocking for Jesus, which we will fill with letters of praise and adoration to HIM! Then, we'll do a birthday cake for Jesus, only ours will most likely become a pie (I'm not a big cake eater). I so would like to be able to adopt a family and buy a gift or two for that family. We also missed the deadline to do the shoebox gift for a child, so we will do that next year as well. In fact, for that one, we are gonna start buying a small gift each month so by Nov. we will be done with gifts for a boy and a girl.
I have to tell you, it is such a relief to not be out and about, rippin' and runnin' searching and buying gifts. To just relax and focus on the true meaning of Christmas!!! I'm lovin' it. Also to know that future Christmas, I only need to focus on 3 gifts per child...that takes a huge weight off my shoulders as well. Hmmmmmmmmm, now to find a few traditions for birthdays. Any ideas or suggestions? Leave me a comment and share.
Have a blessed Christmas!
What other traditions do you have as a family? Please share!!!
Christmas is just 3 days away and for the FIRST time ever, I'm not dashing about worrying about getting gifts and such. Finances have caused us to put our gift exchange on hold till January of '09. So on Christmas day, we will mostly focus on Jesus and being together as a family. We'll read about Jesus birth in the Bible, make cookies, drink cocoa, watch movies, SLEEP ;-), and talk. I have no idea what kind of meal we will have. I don't know what I want to cook. No one in my house wants turkey this year. I've got my New Year's meal planned, but no ideas cross my mind for Christmas!!!
I've gotten lots of great ideas for our Christmas' to come (if the Lord says the same). I had planned to do 3 gifts for each child and then after talking to several ladies and finding out that they do this because the Bible mentions 3 gifts that Christ received, I have decided that we will be switching to this as well. This will cause me to think carefully about the gifts I want to give them and make them really meaningful gifts. Everyone knows that books are my all time favorite, so my children will get a book to add to their collection. I want them to have books from days gone by, but that they will love to read over and over again. We'll also start a Christmas stocking for Jesus, which we will fill with letters of praise and adoration to HIM! Then, we'll do a birthday cake for Jesus, only ours will most likely become a pie (I'm not a big cake eater). I so would like to be able to adopt a family and buy a gift or two for that family. We also missed the deadline to do the shoebox gift for a child, so we will do that next year as well. In fact, for that one, we are gonna start buying a small gift each month so by Nov. we will be done with gifts for a boy and a girl.
I have to tell you, it is such a relief to not be out and about, rippin' and runnin' searching and buying gifts. To just relax and focus on the true meaning of Christmas!!! I'm lovin' it. Also to know that future Christmas, I only need to focus on 3 gifts per child...that takes a huge weight off my shoulders as well. Hmmmmmmmmm, now to find a few traditions for birthdays. Any ideas or suggestions? Leave me a comment and share.
Have a blessed Christmas!
What other traditions do you have as a family? Please share!!!
12/11/2008
Night One in our NEW home!
I so wish we had thought to take pictures, but in trying to prepare for and deal with the cold, that was the farthest thing from our minds. If you can envision, the house was moved out in September. All my furniture and things were moved in shortly after that. It’s been like a model home without water, electricity, etc. The only things missing were the few necessities we had in the double-wide. The things left to move are my exercise equipment, which I just might have to sell, and our clothes. The children have done a remarkable job getting things in order.
Well, I get home last night and it was colder in the house than it was outside!!! It really was cold. So we went to work putting up blankets to seal off the hallway and around the front door (LOTS of air gets through around the door). We won’t be going into the hallway area and back 2 bedrooms until we redo those rooms. Anyway, I digress. So we will all be sleeping on beds in the living room and utilizing the kitchen and master bathroom once we have water.
Only 2 rooms to really keep heated up at this particular time.
The children had all the beds made and TONS of blankets on each of them, along with sleeping bags. My oldest reheated dinner-Nacho Soup and we were ready to eat and snuggle in for the night.
But we get a phone call. My mother (yes, for those that know about that…you read that right), told my son to go over and get one of her small portable heaters. We get that set up and it really isn’t putting out much heat in that large of an area, but it’s something. Maybe 5 minutes later she calls again. She tells me to take her debit card and go purchase 1 heater at Wal-mart.
So two of my children go sit in front of her fireplace and one goes with me to Wal-mart. We pick out the heater and head home.
We get home, change into jammies, sit around eating our nacho soup and then prepare for a bit of talking and television. It was still very cold, but the heater did knock off the chill a bit. We just thought we would burrow down into our blankets and deal with it. Around 1:30 or 2 this morning, I woke up sweating!!!!! Yes, I was sweating. Looked over at the children and they had thrown their blankets off them as well. I thought well, this is now and it'll be freezing when I get up for work. WRONG. They sorta woke up a bit to tell me bye and to tell me how hot it was. All I could do was PRAISE the Lord yet again. We went from being able to see our breath to sweating.
Isn't God good?! He'll take simple things like that to bless you and you know it's no one but Him
Well, I get home last night and it was colder in the house than it was outside!!! It really was cold. So we went to work putting up blankets to seal off the hallway and around the front door (LOTS of air gets through around the door). We won’t be going into the hallway area and back 2 bedrooms until we redo those rooms. Anyway, I digress. So we will all be sleeping on beds in the living room and utilizing the kitchen and master bathroom once we have water.
Only 2 rooms to really keep heated up at this particular time.
The children had all the beds made and TONS of blankets on each of them, along with sleeping bags. My oldest reheated dinner-Nacho Soup and we were ready to eat and snuggle in for the night.
But we get a phone call. My mother (yes, for those that know about that…you read that right), told my son to go over and get one of her small portable heaters. We get that set up and it really isn’t putting out much heat in that large of an area, but it’s something. Maybe 5 minutes later she calls again. She tells me to take her debit card and go purchase 1 heater at Wal-mart.
So two of my children go sit in front of her fireplace and one goes with me to Wal-mart. We pick out the heater and head home.
We get home, change into jammies, sit around eating our nacho soup and then prepare for a bit of talking and television. It was still very cold, but the heater did knock off the chill a bit. We just thought we would burrow down into our blankets and deal with it. Around 1:30 or 2 this morning, I woke up sweating!!!!! Yes, I was sweating. Looked over at the children and they had thrown their blankets off them as well. I thought well, this is now and it'll be freezing when I get up for work. WRONG. They sorta woke up a bit to tell me bye and to tell me how hot it was. All I could do was PRAISE the Lord yet again. We went from being able to see our breath to sweating.
Isn't God good?! He'll take simple things like that to bless you and you know it's no one but Him
12/10/2008
Have you ever wondered?
Why people blame Bush for the state of our economy and war? I’ve wondered that, not just about Bush, but every president I can remember. The majority elects the person of their choice and then when the man doesn’t do what they WANT him to do, the way they want him to do it, they blame him for all the mess!
But have you ever wondered that though we have elected any given person, God is the one who is in control. He is the one that orchestrates and maneuvers plans, decisions, etc.?
It just makes you wonder, because God has a BIG picture that none of us can see completely yet, and He utilizes everyone of us (to include leaders), to bring about His desired end.
Maybe instead of pointing fingers and blaming, we should be asking God…What is His BIG picture!!!
But have you ever wondered that though we have elected any given person, God is the one who is in control. He is the one that orchestrates and maneuvers plans, decisions, etc.?
It just makes you wonder, because God has a BIG picture that none of us can see completely yet, and He utilizes everyone of us (to include leaders), to bring about His desired end.
Maybe instead of pointing fingers and blaming, we should be asking God…What is His BIG picture!!!
Coincidence? I don't think so!
For those that don’t believe in God or believe in “some higher power”, they would say that things that happen are good luck, bad luck, karma, or coincidences. However, for those of us that have chosen to believe in a Risen Savior and Creator of all things, we would say that Nothing Just Happens!!!!
Well, as I continue with my praises of what God is doing in our lives, I have to tell you that when my children called and said the power was NOT on in the other home, I was at first disappointed. Man, me and my selfishness!!!
So I get home and I look around. They wired their end, you can clearly see that. All looks to be in order. I walk around to the back of the double wide and sure enough, the meter is still there and walk back to the single wide and sure enough there is no meter there. I looked up and said, Ok God, you know what is best for us and I’m going to trust you. I’m walking around the house and I’m thinking…WHY am I disappointed? The single wide will have no heat. The double wide has heat. The temperature is supposed to get down in the 20’s and we’ll at least be warm tonight. WHAT is wrong with me? WHY was I disappointed? Because now at this point I begin to praise Him for loving us that much and being concerned that we would be cold, that HE chose to postpone the transition one more night…the coldest night of the season so far. Then I began to laugh, because Papa really does care and I was acting like a spoiled brat…wanting things my way, in my time.
Then my oldest daughter runs to the door. Mom, a man from the electric company is on the phone for you. I run (literally) in the house. I’m out of breath and I answer. It’s the guy that came out to look over what was done the day before. The other guys couldn’t find his tools where I told him I would leave them. While we are on the phone I said sir, was something wrong, because they didn’t put the meter on the other house? He said well they thought you wanted the meter to stay on the double wide and a new meter on the single wide. I explained that they will be picking up the double wide soon and we just wanted them to transfer it. He said oh, because for whatever reason they left out of the office without meters in their truck, so they were going to have to go back tomorrow (which is today). I said well, no need for a new meter; just have them transfer the other one. Not a problem, they’ll do it first thing in the morning. Ok, now what about the $50 charge for them coming back a second time? Oh, no charge ma’am, it was our error and misunderstanding. We’ll take care of it. And with that we said good-bye and I began to praise HIM all the more.
You see, those things were not just coincidental, happenstance, or luck. That was my Heavenly Father loving on me and my children. Saying put it in My hands and trust Me to do what is best for you. I love you with unfailing love and as My child I only want good things for you.
So we made dinner, talked for a bit, watched a little TV (yeah we’ve been indulging more this week; until transition is over) ;-) and then we went to bed in the warmth as we listened to the sleet on the windows.
Who but God could have orchestrated that so perfectly??!! I never could have in a million years. He’s just good like that!!! I mean, they work for the electric company and never leave without the proper materials they need, but on this day, they leave without meters? Nope, not just coincidental…that was all God!!!
Well, as I continue with my praises of what God is doing in our lives, I have to tell you that when my children called and said the power was NOT on in the other home, I was at first disappointed. Man, me and my selfishness!!!
So I get home and I look around. They wired their end, you can clearly see that. All looks to be in order. I walk around to the back of the double wide and sure enough, the meter is still there and walk back to the single wide and sure enough there is no meter there. I looked up and said, Ok God, you know what is best for us and I’m going to trust you. I’m walking around the house and I’m thinking…WHY am I disappointed? The single wide will have no heat. The double wide has heat. The temperature is supposed to get down in the 20’s and we’ll at least be warm tonight. WHAT is wrong with me? WHY was I disappointed? Because now at this point I begin to praise Him for loving us that much and being concerned that we would be cold, that HE chose to postpone the transition one more night…the coldest night of the season so far. Then I began to laugh, because Papa really does care and I was acting like a spoiled brat…wanting things my way, in my time.
Then my oldest daughter runs to the door. Mom, a man from the electric company is on the phone for you. I run (literally) in the house. I’m out of breath and I answer. It’s the guy that came out to look over what was done the day before. The other guys couldn’t find his tools where I told him I would leave them. While we are on the phone I said sir, was something wrong, because they didn’t put the meter on the other house? He said well they thought you wanted the meter to stay on the double wide and a new meter on the single wide. I explained that they will be picking up the double wide soon and we just wanted them to transfer it. He said oh, because for whatever reason they left out of the office without meters in their truck, so they were going to have to go back tomorrow (which is today). I said well, no need for a new meter; just have them transfer the other one. Not a problem, they’ll do it first thing in the morning. Ok, now what about the $50 charge for them coming back a second time? Oh, no charge ma’am, it was our error and misunderstanding. We’ll take care of it. And with that we said good-bye and I began to praise HIM all the more.
You see, those things were not just coincidental, happenstance, or luck. That was my Heavenly Father loving on me and my children. Saying put it in My hands and trust Me to do what is best for you. I love you with unfailing love and as My child I only want good things for you.
So we made dinner, talked for a bit, watched a little TV (yeah we’ve been indulging more this week; until transition is over) ;-) and then we went to bed in the warmth as we listened to the sleet on the windows.
Who but God could have orchestrated that so perfectly??!! I never could have in a million years. He’s just good like that!!! I mean, they work for the electric company and never leave without the proper materials they need, but on this day, they leave without meters? Nope, not just coincidental…that was all God!!!
12/09/2008
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary Had The Little Lamb
Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth;
Self-existent Son of God, from Heaven He came to Earth. (Micah 5:2)
Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall-
Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall. (Isaiah 7:14)
Mary had the little Lamb, obedient Son of God;
Everywhere the Father led, His feet were sure to trod. (John 6:38)
Mary had the little Lamb, crucified on the tree
The rejected Son of God, He died to set men free. (1 Peter 1:18)
Mary had the little Lamb, men placed Him in the grave,
Thinking they were done with Him; to death He was no slave! (Matthew 28:6)
Mary had the little Lamb, ascended now is He;
All work on Earth is ended, our Advocate to be. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Mary had the little Lamb - mystery to behold!
From the Lamb of Calvary, a Lion will unfold. (Revelation 5: 5,6)
When the Day Star comes again, of this be very sure:
It won't be Lamb-like silence, but with the Lion's roar. (Psalm 2:12; Revelation 19:11-16) (
Marv & Marbeth Rosenthal, Copies of this poem may be used without written permission from the authors.
Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth;
Self-existent Son of God, from Heaven He came to Earth. (Micah 5:2)
Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall-
Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall. (Isaiah 7:14)
Mary had the little Lamb, obedient Son of God;
Everywhere the Father led, His feet were sure to trod. (John 6:38)
Mary had the little Lamb, crucified on the tree
The rejected Son of God, He died to set men free. (1 Peter 1:18)
Mary had the little Lamb, men placed Him in the grave,
Thinking they were done with Him; to death He was no slave! (Matthew 28:6)
Mary had the little Lamb, ascended now is He;
All work on Earth is ended, our Advocate to be. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Mary had the little Lamb - mystery to behold!
From the Lamb of Calvary, a Lion will unfold. (Revelation 5: 5,6)
When the Day Star comes again, of this be very sure:
It won't be Lamb-like silence, but with the Lion's roar. (Psalm 2:12; Revelation 19:11-16) (
Marv & Marbeth Rosenthal, Copies of this poem may be used without written permission from the authors.
PRAISE is what I do! LONG
Can you say Hallelujah?! I have to tell you we were doing a praise dance at our house yesterday!!
Hmmmmmmm, where do I begin? I’ll leave the tidbit about my stomach virus this weekend out. ;-) Saturday morning I was to purchase the electricity pole-box combo, dig a 4 ft hole, and a friend was to come install it and wire the house to the pole for me. Monday the electric company was to do their part and we would have electricity in the new house and finalize our move.
Well, what was supposed to happen and what did happen are two totally different things.
I ended up sick Friday evening and when the children called the friend, her husband was ill as well. WHAT? I don’t know anything about electricity…are you serious. Oh no! Then I had to stop because I was NOT being gracious or concerned for his health. I was being selfish.
Ok, so this means I can dig the hole, install the pole and reschedule everything else for the following weekend and week. Ok, no sweat!
Joseph talks to the sheriff to get an extension on the date we MUST be out of the house. He comes by with a friend and they finish digging the hole my big boy started (He did 2 feet!). Pole is in and then Joseph says where is the wiring? I said, they told me it all came with the pole. Guess what? It was the wiring for the electric company’s end. You purchase your wire separately. Oh My Gosh! Are you serious? I have 0 $. My account is overdrawn as it is and I need more money? Ok, well I go to Home Depot just to price everything that will be needed and a young man helps me out. He says, you can use aluminum wiring instead of copper, the only thing that has to be copper is the grounding wire. Ok great, aluminum is 3 times less expensive than copper. The total…a little over $95 bucks. I head back to the house and tell Joseph. Then I spot something; shingles and a few other things un-used from the new roof. Hey can’t we take that back and get store credit and buy the materials needed for the electricity? He does later that evening and guess what…it all comes to about $93 total!!! Yes, you read that right. There was $97 in store credit, when done we have $4 store credit left.
I don’t know the first thing about electricity, except it can kill you, oh and that’s how lights work and stove, etc.; and neither does Joseph. But we walk to the back of the double wide, look at how it’s done and figure, can’t be too difficult. The worse that could happen is the house burns down. That was a joke..Ha Ha. The electric company checks everything before they connect it. Joseph says he’ll be back Monday.
Sunday was a day of praise. I was literally at the door of the Holy of Holies and knew all would be well.
Monday I called and canceled the electric company coming out. Then I begin to bombard the poor man with 50 questions. He finally said, ma’am I’m going to send one of my men out to look at what you’ve got before you do anything. GREAT!!!! Then he says by the way, you can use aluminum wiring. What people don’t know is it contracts and expands and in doing this loosens up the connections and that is where the fire hazard comes in, but I’ll show you what to do, how to do it, and tell you when to do it and you’ll be safe. Again…GREAT!!!!
Joseph gets there a little after noon on Monday and goes to work connecting the wiring. Just as he is about done, a guy from the electric company drives up. He looks at what has been done so far and says “you’ve done a great job thus far”. He’s shocked to find out neither of us knows what we are doing. He stays there another 30 min. walking Joseph through the rest of the connections and even leaves some of his tools for us to use. We have the aluminum wiring all connected, but there is still that dilemma about the copper grounding wire. He says, you don’t need it. If you want that extra added precaution go for it. He used to do this stuff for a living. He said they did it this way with 3 grounding wires just to cover their butts, but it wasn’t necessary. He said you have 2 grounding wires, you’re good. If you get a little nervous later and have the money, you can add the copper wiring later. We look at him in disbelief, because up to this point we are both thinking me and the children will be without electricity again until Jan. (copper wiring was an additional $40). He again looked things over and said no, you have done a phenomenal job not to be an electrician. You did everything right and all is in order. Someone was guiding you. I’m thinking YEAH…His name is JESUS!!!!!
Sooooooooooo, now I really get into over gear, trying to plan and prepare what needs to be done. The fridge, washer, dryer, all still need to be moved. We can’t connect water and septic till the other house is moved. Inconvenient, but we’ll have to use the double wide for water and bathroom usage, but it’s just right out our back door. It’s not across the street like it was when we first moved out there. We’ve done this before, it’s like camping. The only difference is then it was August, 105 degree temperatures and now it is December, varied temperatures.
Our greatest challenge will be tonight when it is to get down to 28. Remember, I have no more money and we have no portable heaters right now. But guess what? I’m not worried about that either. We have sleeping bags and tons of blankets. We’ll all sleep in the living room and huddle together…we’ve done it before. We’ll be fine. God will provide, I’m sure of it. He already has!!!
Hmmmmmmm, where do I begin? I’ll leave the tidbit about my stomach virus this weekend out. ;-) Saturday morning I was to purchase the electricity pole-box combo, dig a 4 ft hole, and a friend was to come install it and wire the house to the pole for me. Monday the electric company was to do their part and we would have electricity in the new house and finalize our move.
Well, what was supposed to happen and what did happen are two totally different things.
I ended up sick Friday evening and when the children called the friend, her husband was ill as well. WHAT? I don’t know anything about electricity…are you serious. Oh no! Then I had to stop because I was NOT being gracious or concerned for his health. I was being selfish.
Ok, so this means I can dig the hole, install the pole and reschedule everything else for the following weekend and week. Ok, no sweat!
Joseph talks to the sheriff to get an extension on the date we MUST be out of the house. He comes by with a friend and they finish digging the hole my big boy started (He did 2 feet!). Pole is in and then Joseph says where is the wiring? I said, they told me it all came with the pole. Guess what? It was the wiring for the electric company’s end. You purchase your wire separately. Oh My Gosh! Are you serious? I have 0 $. My account is overdrawn as it is and I need more money? Ok, well I go to Home Depot just to price everything that will be needed and a young man helps me out. He says, you can use aluminum wiring instead of copper, the only thing that has to be copper is the grounding wire. Ok great, aluminum is 3 times less expensive than copper. The total…a little over $95 bucks. I head back to the house and tell Joseph. Then I spot something; shingles and a few other things un-used from the new roof. Hey can’t we take that back and get store credit and buy the materials needed for the electricity? He does later that evening and guess what…it all comes to about $93 total!!! Yes, you read that right. There was $97 in store credit, when done we have $4 store credit left.
I don’t know the first thing about electricity, except it can kill you, oh and that’s how lights work and stove, etc.; and neither does Joseph. But we walk to the back of the double wide, look at how it’s done and figure, can’t be too difficult. The worse that could happen is the house burns down. That was a joke..Ha Ha. The electric company checks everything before they connect it. Joseph says he’ll be back Monday.
Sunday was a day of praise. I was literally at the door of the Holy of Holies and knew all would be well.
Monday I called and canceled the electric company coming out. Then I begin to bombard the poor man with 50 questions. He finally said, ma’am I’m going to send one of my men out to look at what you’ve got before you do anything. GREAT!!!! Then he says by the way, you can use aluminum wiring. What people don’t know is it contracts and expands and in doing this loosens up the connections and that is where the fire hazard comes in, but I’ll show you what to do, how to do it, and tell you when to do it and you’ll be safe. Again…GREAT!!!!
Joseph gets there a little after noon on Monday and goes to work connecting the wiring. Just as he is about done, a guy from the electric company drives up. He looks at what has been done so far and says “you’ve done a great job thus far”. He’s shocked to find out neither of us knows what we are doing. He stays there another 30 min. walking Joseph through the rest of the connections and even leaves some of his tools for us to use. We have the aluminum wiring all connected, but there is still that dilemma about the copper grounding wire. He says, you don’t need it. If you want that extra added precaution go for it. He used to do this stuff for a living. He said they did it this way with 3 grounding wires just to cover their butts, but it wasn’t necessary. He said you have 2 grounding wires, you’re good. If you get a little nervous later and have the money, you can add the copper wiring later. We look at him in disbelief, because up to this point we are both thinking me and the children will be without electricity again until Jan. (copper wiring was an additional $40). He again looked things over and said no, you have done a phenomenal job not to be an electrician. You did everything right and all is in order. Someone was guiding you. I’m thinking YEAH…His name is JESUS!!!!!
Sooooooooooo, now I really get into over gear, trying to plan and prepare what needs to be done. The fridge, washer, dryer, all still need to be moved. We can’t connect water and septic till the other house is moved. Inconvenient, but we’ll have to use the double wide for water and bathroom usage, but it’s just right out our back door. It’s not across the street like it was when we first moved out there. We’ve done this before, it’s like camping. The only difference is then it was August, 105 degree temperatures and now it is December, varied temperatures.
Our greatest challenge will be tonight when it is to get down to 28. Remember, I have no more money and we have no portable heaters right now. But guess what? I’m not worried about that either. We have sleeping bags and tons of blankets. We’ll all sleep in the living room and huddle together…we’ve done it before. We’ll be fine. God will provide, I’m sure of it. He already has!!!
12/01/2008
December? Already?
Can you believe it’s December already? Where did the time go? Man did I accomplish all I set out to accomplish in 2008?
Well, it is December, the time flew by so quickly, and no I did not accomplish all I had hoped in 2008. There were many set backs, but many opportunities to get closer to my Savior. I’ve complained and murmured because I sure as heck didn’t like the avenues through which God was molding me and making changes in my life. But as I look back I am so grateful that through it all God has not left me nor let me go.
I’ve had to go back and relearn some things that I learned and conquered (so I thought), but in this round of learning, I have come to appreciate the lessons learned.
I commune with God more fervently and frequently. I am still learning how to pray scriptures. I am also relearning trust!!! Now that is not an easy one.
I am back at work after 5 days off. I enjoy those 5 days and look forward to the time when the Lord calls me to be a full time mom again. Things I took for granted. Cherish your time with your children, it is priceless. We had a ball!!! We played games and talked, laughed, cooked, ate, and slept. We needed that time together.
Now to refocus and seek His guidance with our homeschooling. I don’t know what the Lord has for us, but I am waiting patiently!!! His will be done.
Well, it is December, the time flew by so quickly, and no I did not accomplish all I had hoped in 2008. There were many set backs, but many opportunities to get closer to my Savior. I’ve complained and murmured because I sure as heck didn’t like the avenues through which God was molding me and making changes in my life. But as I look back I am so grateful that through it all God has not left me nor let me go.
I’ve had to go back and relearn some things that I learned and conquered (so I thought), but in this round of learning, I have come to appreciate the lessons learned.
I commune with God more fervently and frequently. I am still learning how to pray scriptures. I am also relearning trust!!! Now that is not an easy one.
I am back at work after 5 days off. I enjoy those 5 days and look forward to the time when the Lord calls me to be a full time mom again. Things I took for granted. Cherish your time with your children, it is priceless. We had a ball!!! We played games and talked, laughed, cooked, ate, and slept. We needed that time together.
Now to refocus and seek His guidance with our homeschooling. I don’t know what the Lord has for us, but I am waiting patiently!!! His will be done.
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