No Depressing Stories Here!

As we all know...it's been a bit harder lately to save a buck or two. I guess that is putting it lightly. My husband and I chose to sell our nice home and to move to a new state to start a church. No, we did not have a job waiting for us. (He tried) He does receive small compensation from the New Church we just started and he and our Creative Pastor started a media business, which is starting to do quite well. He also works at a liquidation store...that the Creative Pastor's old boss opened in Burlington, NC just for them to have jobs. 'The Shop' is what my three year old and I call it. So,in the midst of giving up a good paying job, with insurance, we are making it. And we have no sad, sappy stories. As a matter of fact, we feel quite the opposite. It hasn't been easy but, God has and will continue to provide.


Yesterday, I was playing with the boys and Caed said he really wanted a Power Ranger. He even started to pretend that some of his other toys were Power Rangers. I said, "Well let's believe God that you will get one." We left it at that. That night, we were headed to couples night at church. Our boys were with us, which kind of defeats the purpose of couples night, but we were all good. I got a call from a close friend who wanted to pick the boys up and take them to the McDonald's Play place! Of course we said..."Yes!" After couples night, we went to pick the boys up and the awesome lady that took the boys said, "Oh, I just had to take them to target to pick out a toy, and Caed got this one." I look down to see, low and behold, a Power Ranger. I seriously wanted to tear up right then.


It is amazing to see how God works. I know these small blessings might not seem like much. No, we did not win the billion dollar jackpot and it wasn't like we were blessed with a new car or an awesome house. But, my son was blessed and he was able to see God's faithfulness with his own eyes. That is huge. God's Word says, "Ask and receive that your joy may be full." So often we don't trust that God's Word is really going to work. It does work and will continue to do so for those that are willing to believe!

Yes and Amen!

My 9 month old decided to have a party last night. The only problem was - that the party started at 2am and did not end until after 5am. He felt fine - no fever - he didn't have the pukes - nothing coming out down low either but, boy he sure wasn't happy. I must admit, at one point I thought I was going to fall sleep while standing up, 24lb kid in arms, while rocking and singing off-key praise songs. When we finally did fall asleep, I had a dream that play dough grew out of my ear in an earring form. Very odd.

So...
My first reaction was why me?
My second reaction was is he okay? (He was just fine.)
My third reaction was me being cranky! (Sorry Joshua.)
My fourth reaction was prayer.
My fifth reaction was peace. Prayer always brings peace.

2 Corinthians 1:20 says : All the promises are "Yes" and "Amen" to those who believe.

I believe that prayer works. I am thankful that in the midst of a terrible night I remembered to pray. I only wish that it would've been my first reaction. I was so caught up in the sleepiness of being sleepy that for my first reaction, I just complained. It would've been different if Cohen wasn't feeling well. He was fine, just choosing to be a wild man at 4 in the morning. I am pretty sure that I said some rude things to my husband and had a terrible attitude.

When things just don't seem to go our way, why not choose to pray-and the God of peace will do what? - Give us peace. The God of more than enough will do what? - Give us more than enough. The God of joy will give us what? - That's right...Joy! And the God of sweet sleep will give us....sweet sleep!

The Right Answer.

I have realized that when I take it all into my own hands I end up making the situation worst.

(This is going to be very graphic.)

Have you ever had a bump(zit-I told you it would be graphic) on your face that you decided to fool with? If you would've just let it alone it would've healed up on it's own but, you had to pick at it. Now, you have a gigantic problem on your face and it will take much longer to heal.

What if when we had a situation arise in our life such as depression, confusion, or fear and we chose to not bother it with what we think will help but, allowed God to simply take control. It seems that what we think will help consists of not really dealing with the problem in the first place. We watch more TV, we drown ourselves in the computer, we block out reality and we give up.

I truly believe that if we would stop trying to fix all of the problems ourselves, and take the issue to the Lord, we would not deal with major ups and downs. Most of our ups and downs are created by us anyway. I chose to not pray first, I chose to stay in my pj's all day, I chose to have a bad attitude, I chose to not get in the Word and find a scripture for what I was dealing with, I chose, I chose, I chose. We have a choice to make the problem a problem!

I want God to fix my life. I want God to make it all right. Will He? Of Course He will. We don't have to do it all alone but we do have to put it in His hands. How can He fix our life if we don't hand Him all of the broken pieces. You might have to do it continually, daily giving your issues to the Lord. I personally think that seems easier than staying defeated while drowning in your own sorrow.

I know this, that God's Word works and that He is listening to what we have to say and He has an answer and a solution for what we need. It's time we started trusting in right answers.

Here are some right answers
Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

God's Word

Have you ever read a book that you could read multiple times and still enjoy it each time? Or what about the book that pulls at your heart strings....makes you laugh (out loud), makes you cry (sobbing), or makes you want to be a real character in the story (those are the best)! Then we have the books that get us to thinking...thinking about life...about love...about illusion...about friendships and relationships...about ourselves...about change..........about more. I enjoy the feeling of reading a good book. I feel like I went somewhere special and experienced something new, all the while being able to sit on my bed in my pj's eating oreos. I do well at multitasking.

There still is one book that tops them all. This book is filled with the juiciest stuff, the best love stories by far! This book has all you need to know in dealing with lions, bears, and lambs all in one. As a matter of fact...it can even show you how to withstand a fiery furnace. Need advice or help in dealing with a tough situation? This book has all subjects... marriage, divorce, remarriage, war, sickness, death, life, financial problems, how to discipline your children, politics, leadership, leprosy...you get the idea. I must admit...I have cried, laughed, sang, danced, rejoiced, prayed, listened and shouted all while reading from this books pages. Where would I be with out this book? Thankfully, I will never know.

For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Pressing On

When I was a little girl I always wanted super long, fancy nails. So my mom would buy me the press on nails from Hills Department Store. They were beautiful and painted wonderful colors such as barbie pink, or red hot red. I am pretty sure they had an orange like color as well, not my cup of tea. I remember putting the sticky stuff on the back of the nail and pressing them on. I felt ever so pretty and quite grown up. The only problem was...I had to keep pressing them on. The moment I would try to play outside, pop! One would pop right off and I would have to press it on again...and again...and again...and again. Was it worth it? Sure it was, I had smokin hot nails at the ripe age of seven! It was all worth the constant pressing on.
There are times when we have to choose to press on if we want to reap a great reward. Even if it means constant pressing, consistent pressing, and complete pressing. It might not be easy and at times it might not be fun but, in the end it'll be worth it. I feel we give in so easily the moment life pops us in a different direction or throws us a few curve balls along the way. When we choose, and I say choose because it is our choice, to not give up and to not give in, that is when we make true headway in life. That is what pressing on is all about. The awesome thing is we don't have to do it all by ourselves. We have help. God's Word gives us all the sticky stuff we need in order to press on. I am choosing to press on through God's Word and because of my faithfulness I will reap a great reward and look pretty good while doing so!

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I was so Tired...and God was there...

I was so very tired today. You see I have a seven month old baby boy that is cutting his front teeth. It's quite the experience you know! Well, no we don't know because we can't remember what it is like to have teeth cutting through our gums. I know...way too much information. So, what comes with cutting teeth? Slobber, more slobber, possibly a runny nose and in my case; a child that has woken me up for three nights in a row. He has slept right beside me with his sweet little head on my pillow. I can't wait until his teeth pop through.

What happens when you haven't had enough sleep? Well, in my case anything. I went to Wally World this evening to pick up some nighttime supplies. All with hopes of helping my sweet n slobbery baby to sleep through the night. I pay, put the groceries in the car, drive home, and discover that I don't have my purse. Note: My purse not only contained my visa check card but, Trailhead Church's visa check card as well. I had forgotten to give it back to my husband after buying a few children church supplies the day before. I call Joshua and I tell him that I have to head back to the store, I left my purse in a buggy, outside, in the parking lot, at ten thirty at night. Awesome!

I am thankful that God is there right when you need Him. As I pulled away from my home, I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry hard. I decided that crying would get me nowhere but, prayer would get my purse back. So, I prayed. I pulled into the parking lot and like a crazy person asked every random stranger putting their groceries into their car if they have seen a brown patch work purse. And of course they hadn't . I ran into the store and asked the sweet older gentleman greeting at the door and he too did not have my purse. They just had to have it at the information desk, and they did! Thank You Jesus! This may not seem like a big deal to some of you. But, to a tired mom that has had snot and slobber rubbed on her clothes for the last three days, it's nothing short of a miracle.

I called my Mom and Dad to have them rejoice with me over my great blessing. My Dad had to add to the blessing that God even blesses Ding Dongs. Thanks Dad....

God was and is always there for us right when we need Him. It is amazing how He hears our prayers and answers them even when we are in Ding Dong mode. I just love the Lord!

Walking in l <3 ve

Have you ever tried walking down a gravel road with out your shoes and socks on? Or how about walking with wet socks in wet shoes after riding a water ride at Kings Island at 11 o'clock in the morning and you weren't going to leave the park until 8 o'clock that night. That was the worst! Oh the blisters...and your feet smell so bad by the end of the day.

There are times when walking in love seems the same as walking up a volcano wearing flip flops. The Bible didn't say that it would be easy. Look at Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. So God's Word tells us that it is a sacrifice to walk in love. What is a sacrifice? It's giving up something for sake of the cause. What would happen if we would choose to sacrifice our feelings and decide to walk in love when we really don't feel like it? For one, I believe the divorce rate would be down. I also believe there would be more salvation's and more people staying hooked in to church. Instead we choose to take the easy road, we choose to say rude things and to act out in a hateful manner to our spouses, our co-workers, our friends. We simply give in.

At the end of Ephesians 5:2 He says that if we walk in love that we will smell really good to God. I believe we will smell really good to everyone when we walk the love walk. Don't you just hate how you feel after you've showed yourself in front of someone? Oh, I despise the way I feel when I say hurtful words to my husband in the midst of a disagreement. If I would've chosen to sacrifice my feelings, my initial thoughts; then I would've caused the situation to have a better outcome.

I have always had to watch my words. It seems like crazy comments would slip out of my mouth before I would even realize it! I once told a boy in the fifth grade that when he grew up that he would end up big and bald just like his father. What a terrible thing to say to someone. I know what your are thinking, that kids say crazy things all of the time. This is true. But, adults say crazy words as well, and most of the time it's been thought out. We do it and then we do nothing about it.

Christ walked the ultimate love walk, he was bruised, beaten and scorned. He was nailed on a cross to die for all man-kind. And the most amazing thing about it was he forgave us all. He chose to sacrifice his flesh and to walk in love. He gave His life for ours. (The ultimate love walk!)

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."