Bible Gateway

Monday, October 31, 2011

Stay at home moms have Monday's too!

Hello everyone!  Praying you all had a good weekend!  Today started a little slow and I didn't feel so great, emotionally.  It's Monday. While it's a beautiful Monday, it's still Monday.  I thought I would be exempt from this feeling once I came home, but nope!  Monday's are still....Monday! LOL  

I woke up in a blah kinda mood.   After a weekend of sickness, bad haircuts, and running around I was pooped!!  I was a little upset with the kids too, as I had asked one to clean their room, and the other to clean up a spill from where they ate last night.  Neither got done.  A sink full of dishes, clothes to wash, clothes laying on the floor and chair in the den didn't make it better.  Normally I would've fussed, fussed all the way to school.  They would have been tired of hearing my mouth, but for some reason today, I didn't.  Just didn't feel like it.  I didn't want to actually.  The more I thought of it, do I really want to send my babies off to school hearing a lecture??  They deal with so much throughout the day that I cannot imagine, I want them to leave my presence in peace.  Not in dread of coming home, because mama is going to fuss some more. Now I will remind them of what I asked, and I will make sure the things get done, but I will do it in love. 

That was my scripture for the day,  1 Corinthians 16:14  Let all that you do be done in love.  
 
I really didn't have much to write about today, but this came to mind as I prayed for direction.  It's a simple message, love. Let love be your guide today as you interact with people!  Even as you interact with yourself.  You may mess up, but you know what, God loves you, and you should love yourself!  You are special, and were made on purpose for a purpose!  Jesus died for you, and He loves you so very much!  Don't ever forget that.  Remember nothing can separate you from the love of God, Romans 8:38-39.  

Ok, so this turned from a blog about Monday's, to a blog about love! LOL   Holy Spirit have your way  :-)  

Have a great day today. Remember God loves you, and Jesus died for you to prove it!

This is my prayer for you today:

Ephesians 3:19
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Just a few scriptures on Love:
Psalm 36: 7
Psalm 91: 14
1 John 4: 8
Romans 5: 8
Hebrews 13: 1
John 13: 35
Hosea 2: 23

Friday, October 28, 2011

A Bloggers Prayer - Taken from the blog, A Holy Experience

I had to repost from a blog I follow, A Holy Experience. This speaks volumes, and is my prayer also.

Upside Down blogging, with Jesus increasing and us decreasing, begins with us bowed in prayer over a keyboard… so we begin in prayer…
A Blogger’s Prayer
I am no longer my own blogger, but Thine.
Refine me with each post how You will, rank me how You will.
Put me to service, or put me to suffering.
Let me be a follower, instead of seeking followers
Let me post for thee or be put aside for thee,
Lifted high, only for thee, or brought low, all for thee.
Do with me and each post whatever you will, because You alone know best.
Let me not strive but submit
Let me not compete but care
Let me not desire hits but holiness
Let my blog be full of You, and let it be empty of me.
Let me crave all things of You, let me care nothing of this world.
Let my words be worthy of the greatest of audiences: You.
And You are enough.
May I write not for subscribers… but only for Your smile.
May my daily affirmation be in the surety of my atonement not the size of my audience.
May my identity be in the innumerable graces of Christ, never, God forbid,
the numbers of my comments.
And may the only words that matter in my life not be the ones I write on a screen —
but the ones I live with my skin.
I freely and heartily yield every sentence, every title, every post, every comment… or no comments… all to Your pleasure and perfect will.
My only fame is that I bear your name
My only glory is the gift of Your Grace
My only readership, Your eyes that seek to and for to find a heart hard after you.
Make this so. Lord…
Yahweh, You alone are my God, not Google
Jesus, You alone are my Savior, not site meters
And Holy Spirit, you alone are my Comforter, not comments
So be it, today, yesterday, and every post to come.
This is my prayer I have made on earth, over this keyboard…
may it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

Still small voice

Hello everyone!! Sorry for not posting yesterday.  I was bitten by the stomach bug going around.  Think I got it from my little precious.  Still a little weak so this post will probably be short.  I thank God He is a healer. Even though this was a mild thing in comparison to what other people are suffering with, it reminded me to stay planted in the Word.  Confess healing scriptures even when I feel great, confess financial scriptures when the money is right, etc.  Don't wait until the situation turns sour to get in the Word, you may feel to weak, or down to do it.  The Word should be in us already so it can rise up when needed. You won't always have time to get your bible.  So do it while you can.  Valuable lesson for me, but God is a healer and we are both feeling better!!

I spoke with my sweet friend a few days ago, and her son was doing a lot better.  The nurses were going to sit him up. He finally got his ice chips too! His little mouth was so dry, so I bet those ice chips tasted sooo good!  She is at peace knowing all is well with him.  She is driving back and forth everyday and going to work so please keep her lifted up as she travels.  While talking with her I learned another valuable lesson about listening to that small voice inside. 

After I dropped her to get her car that day, the Holy Spirit whispered to me to give her some oil for her son.  Our church handed out small containers of anointing oil a while back, and I keep one in my car.  Well I talked myself out it.  I told myself she probably had some, I didn't want her to think I was trying to be all "holy" carrying oil in my car (how stupid is that), it was too late to turn around.  I came up with all types of things.  I drove back home soon forgetting about that oil.  God didn't!  When I talked to her a few days after that, she told me something her son struggled with since being in the hospital. She hadn't told anyone else, and at the time she said I don't know why I am telling you this, I haven't even told my mom.  She told me the situation and said "I prayed over him, but the only thing I wish I had was some oil"  She said, "I wish I had some oil to anoint him and his hospital room"  OMG!!!!!!  The signals went off!  I told her what the Holy Spirit prompted me to do, but I ignored Him.  We were both in awe!! All she could say was "I didn't know why I was telling you that, we don't know each other that well, but I just felt I needed to tell you"!  Let's just say I learned my lesson!  We both laughed, but inside I was so disappointed! I had not listened, I didn't obey.  I had something that was to be a blessing to someone else and didn't act on it out of fear!!

Needless to say, Mark brought her the oil the next day!  Quite dramatically of course, LOL.   He held it up like it was oil straight from heaven, you just have to know my husband! LOL Praise God!  God is so awesome, and that voice can come when you least expect it.  It may not make sense, but listen to it. You may be the very person God is using to bring about someone's healing or blessing.  You may be the person they are praying for!  I told her from now on I am listening. I don't care if the Holy Spirit says give that person a nickle.... hey they may need $100 and only have $99.95, that nickle would be a miracle in their eyes.  Listen, listen, listen!

1 Kings 19:11-12  New King James Version (NKJV)

 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Update - Please read

Hi everybody!! I have to apologize for the lyrics I posted yesterday. A few lines of them were wrong. I copied them from a website but when I listened to the actual song this morning I heard the correct lyrics. I knew something didn't look right but I wasn't sure.
  

Looking the part just to play the game 
Cutting cut up face back looks the same  
They're just pass stars making a name  
So shut your part it is a crying shame   

It should read:
Looking the part just to play the game
Cookie cutter faith that looks the same
Religious rock stars making a name
So churified, it's a crying shame


Incorrect: Not stopping Love and joy, Peace and kindness Gentleness and self control 
Nothing, nothing is more beautiful
I wanna' look like love I wanna' look like, live like faith I wanna' live this life in me showing my face I wanna' look like hope I wanna' look like, live like grace And I know just where to start I'll let you feel my beauty mark
 
 
Should be:
Dressed up in Love and joy, Peace and kindness Gentleness and self control  
nothing, nothing is more beautiful
I wanna' look like love I wanna' look like, live like faith 
I wanna' let this life in me show on my face  
I wanna' look like hope I wanna' look like, live like grace  
And I know just where to start I'll let you feel my beauty mark
 
I know it's probably not a big deal, but I wanted to clarify. Those previous lyrics didn't make sense! LOL
 
Now here is a quick update on my friend's son. 
 
Please keep them in your prayers.   Once she got home she got him to the hospital, as he was in terrible, terrible pain. She could barely dress him and get him in the car. He was throwing up and could not stand up straight, laying in a fetal position most of the time. We all thought it was appendicitis because of the bad pain in his stomach. They took samples and gave him Morphine for pain (it was that bad).  The doctor felt his stomach and ruled out appendicitis, but did say his stomach was hard.  The hospital in Baytown rushed him by ambulance to TX Children's Hospital right away.  He had surgery at 5:40 this morning.  
 
The surgeon found a large pool of blood near his intestines. That's where the pain was radiating from. His intestines somehow became bruised and over the course of days started to bleed.  I believe she also said it caused his kidney to become infected. The doctors are baffled and don't know how something like this could happen.  My friend said the only thing her son told her was about 2 weeks ago he got hit in the stomach playing football, but he was fine after that, eating and going about his normal routine,  until this weekend.  Now they must insert a tube in his side to drain any remaining blood, and he will be fed by a tube through the nose.  This young man is only 14 and had no previous medical conditions.  He is terrified, and so is mom.  
 
Her family is small and only consists of her mother, grandmother, sister and nephew.  Her mother can't be with her because she takes care of her grandmother who is 93, has dementia, and is on a feeding tube herself.  Please pray for them!  Her mother is beside herself.  He is expected to remain in the hospital for 3 to 4 weeks, and does not want his mother out of his sight.  Her concern is her job, she needs to work, has to work to support her family.  She gets no support from her ex husband. 
 
I offered to go sit with her but her nephew was on his way so her and her daughter could go home, get bathed, changed and try to eat. They didn't pack anything because they didn't expect it to be this bad.  Plus she has to get her daughter back in school.  Let's bombard the heavens for this family.  I talked with her at 8:15 this morning and she still had not seen him because he was in the ICU recovery room so she wasn't sure if he knew anything.  I haven't talked her to since that time.  Just trying to let them get settled.  I will keep everyone updated on his progress.  When I talk with her she sounds so peaceful, even as she deals with anxiety herself but she is keeping it together for her kids.  She is just trying to be rational, not overact or panic.  She knows nothing about Houston, and was nervous about making the drive back home.  Her kids are her world, they are all she has.  
 
Also please lift her daughter up as she is dealing with depression (she's only 12).  She deals with anger issues that surprisingly stem from her father.  My friend thought this was strange because her daughter was so small when her dad left, and they have no contact with him.  They started counseling and it came out during the session.  My friend said they were filling out the paperwork, and one of the questions was "Please check any family members that you are having problems with" The little girl checked so hard where it said father, my friend asked "Why did you that?" She checked it with such anger and force, sad part is, the little girl didn't even realize she did it.  She didn't know why!  Her daughter told her she doesn't know why she gets so angry, she just does.
 
Now you see why I said she showed me how to keep things in perspective.  You never know what people are dealing with.  I will keep you guys posted! I know God is a healer, and a miracle worker.  This family needs one!
 
Thank you!!
 

Monday, October 24, 2011

Unexpected Blessings

Hello everyone! Praying everyone had a great weekend!

I am getting straight to it today. Y'all the Lord has blessed me tremendously today and I HAVE to share!! Man where to start.  I want to apologize first if this post is too long, but God is just AWESOME! 

Ok, so I am chilling, sitting at the computer, just fed Kalena.  She's nice and content playing........ Ahhhhh, my time to relax for a bit.  Just then Mark calls, I'm like "Hey, what's up?"  I could tell in his voice he was getting ready to ask me something that he really didn't want to ask.  (I love my husband, and his concern for people.  He has a heart that reaches out to anyone.  He will pick up a homeless man and treat him like royalty! God bless him).  He begins to tell me that the new girl that works there just got a call that her son is sick, Uh huh... and she didn't drive her car today, uh huh.....pause...... all I could think and what does that have to do with you ?(shame on me) you are not driving her anywhere.  I didn't say that but you know.....so he's like I thought about letting her use my car (nope) but that's not a good idea.....by then I know where this is going.  He asks if I would mind bringing her to check on her son. UHHHHHHHHHHH, OK.  All I can think is, dang it, I already told you I didn't want to drive out there today, he works in Port Arthur. (selfish a little)

Of course I say yes!  Very reluctantly.  What type of person would I be if I said no, right?  So I get dressed, she calls.  Not sounding very enthusiastic about the idea herself,  she asks about how long it might take me to get there.  I start rushing around, I am still in my PJ's, hadn't taken a bath, Kalena pooed, hair not combed!  So during that call she says "yeah Mark said you wouldn't mind driving me to Baytown to check on my son" UHHHHHH Baytown, I don't remember that coming up!!  I didn't tell her this, I just play it off, "sure no problem" we finalize everything, and hang up.  Since she didn't sound very grateful, (she was, but had some other issues going on that I found out about) I start taking my time.  God quickly reprimands! How would I feel if I were miles away and had a sick child I couldn't get to immediately???  On the one day I decide not to drive at that, because I am a single mom trying to save gas, so I ride the company bus to work! "Forgive me Lord".  We find out really quickly what ugliness is in us when God places a demand on us to do something for Him that we don't "want" to do.  I also learn, be careful how you treat people, you never know what they are going through. When someone is stressed they don't need your attitude making it worse!!

I start talking to God, He's on the main line so I start telling Him all about it!! LOL  Then something happens.  My blog the other day about Surrender comes to mind......... Pause again, how many times do we beg, plead, cry for God to use us, but when the opportunity comes and it's not how "we" want to be used we cringe.  I tell you, If you haven't totally surrendered to God, when He asks you to do something that takes you out of your comfort zone, whatever is still ugly in you will come.  And it did, strong! I am ashamed to say, but hey I like to keep it real. I don't like to be out of my comfort zone, I am content to sit here in from of my computer talking about all the great things the Lord has done, instead of getting out there and helping Him do some of those great things.  Shame!

So I get on the road, praying the whole way saying, Lord I am doing this for you, I don't know what your plan is, but whatever it is I surrender.  He knows I am not feeling this at all. The more I talk to Him, the more at peace I feel. This just reminds me not to be led by my feelings, just act and the feelings will catch up! I am listening to Natalie Grant's Cd, and the song Beauty Mark comes on! WOW speaks directly to me!!  ( I will post the lyrics at the end) He reminds me, "didn't you just write that you want to please Me more than breathe"??? Yes Lord, "well here is an opportunity" OK Lord.  I surrender!  My heart, my emotions, my feelings.  I am not really an affectionate person.  Many people that know me may say "awww Nikki's so sweet" awww Nikki this, Nikki that" but what they don't know is Nikki is not an affectionate person "by nature".  Ask my mom how I hug, LOL.  I am not comfortable (there is that word again) showing my feelings.  Sure, I can be emotional, I cry at sad commercials, I feel "sorry" for people. 

That's dangerous right there! God showed me that! He doesn't need children that "feel sorry"  He needs children that can get into gear and be about His business. The world feels sorry, has apathy.  We are to be children of action!! How many times do we "feel sorry" for people in bad situations? We think "Oh my gosh, how horrible, someone should really do something" or if we are really "saved" we might send some money to help out, send clothes, food. Yeah that appeases our minds and flesh to say "well at least you did something right"??? Those things are all good, don't get me wrong.  We are not all called to be missionaries in third world countries, and sometimes it's not possible to help everyone but we can all do something for someone.  We are called to do that. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus Himself. What do you do when that helping demands you to give more than just money, more than just clothes, more than feeling sorry, but actually calls you to give of yourself,  your time, your resources??? Now we don't like that.  It's our time right??  We work hard, we need and deserve "our time". 

What we fail to realize is,  It's really not our time, it's God's time that He is allowing us to use!  That was a new revelation to me!! How are we using the time, and resources that God has entrusted to us?  We all want to cry out like Isaiah, "Send me Lord, I'll go" what happens when God calls you to go???  Do you go with a smile, willingly, cheerfully, praising and worshiping God , or do you want to pick the places you go, pick the people you help and go on your terms, when it's convenient for you?  Do you go with an attitude, complaining the whole time?  Thinking of everything it might cost you??  You might as well not go then, because God gets no glory out of that.  I was so ashamed, but so relieved that my Father loves me so much that He answers my prayers for change.  Change me Lord, let me not be complacent, and comfortable.  Didn't think He would move so soon, LOL!!  All I could think is I am representing You Lord, and my husband. I should be honored that my husband sees something in me to even think to ask.  I could be one of those wives, that he could think "well I am sure not asking my wife, she would never do that".  I don't want to be that way, I don't want to be that wife. I want to represent him and our family well.  I want to be a wife he can be proud of.  Just like a child is known by their good deeds (Proverbs 20:11) so are adults!!

So back to the story.  I pick her up, she gets in the backseat with Kalena, okkk.....what she don't want to sit up front with me?? (flesh is a mess, sometimes even after you pray)   I have to remind myself, she doesn't know me, she's probably a little uncomfortable too, and plus she has a very sick son over an hour way that needs her.  It's not about me at this moment at all! God use me.  I am Your driver.  Whatever your plan I submit, if I am to pray.....I will pray..... listen........I will listen.......just drive......I will just drive.  I want to please you Lord! 

I must say God showed out!  We talked the entire way!  She shared her whole story with me. She reminded me without saying it, to keep things in perspective.  She is a single mother working a job to take care of her two kids.  She is doing the best she can with what she has. She left Port Arthur to give her kids a better environment.  She gladly makes that drive everyday, sometimes on weekends too, to do better for her kids, and to give them the best. She should be dead at the hand of her ex husband but God said NO!!  She is a living, breathing testimony and I am honored to be her driver today.  God you are Awesome.  Thank you for choosing me.  She thanked me, we hugged, she even blessed me with gas money( was not even on my mind).  This young woman living for God, her kids, and herself.  Not trying to be cute, not trying to get attention, but working and working hard with a bunch of men that don't know her struggles.  She's beautiful, but that doesn't matter, she has a job to do, and kids to take care of. 

I was so blessed.  Sometimes our blessings don't come the way we expect, and sometimes our blessings are ones we haven't prayed for, but when God blesses boy does he bless!  I am so glad I surrendered and submitted.  It's hard to explain, but I know God is preparing me for greater things, but I must not get complacent, I must not get comfortable.  God is always moving, always doing, so when He moves we must be ready to move, ready to act. There's not always time to pray, we should always be ready, and make the most of every opportunity, Colossians 4:5-6.  Don't wait for everything to perfect, or for you have more money.  You have everything you need to do something for God, and whatever you lack He will provide....along the way and as you go!  Remember when Jesus healed the 10 lepers?  They obeyed God came in faith for their healing, and they were healed AS THEY WENT!! (Luke 17:12-14) You don't receive your blessings sometimes until you GO!

Today I had the opportunity to chauffeur one of God's daughters, and just listen, she thanked me for that. All she needed and wanted was someone to listen, but she gave me so much more!

Lyrics to Beauty Mark, by Natalie Grant

What do you see when you look at me? Ten dollar words and philosophies 
How would you choose to define me? Cares for others or just cares what others think?
But there is more to me than just what meets the eye 
It's time to be the change inside
I wanna' look like love, I wanna' look like, live like faith, I wanna' live this life in me showing my face, I wanna' look like hope, I wanna' look like, live like grace  
And I know just where to start I'll let you be my beauty mark
 
Looking the part just to play the game 
Cutting cut up face back looks the same  
They're just pass stars making a name  
So shut your part it is a crying shame   

But I'll put the finger on nobody else but me (Nobody else but me)  
It's time to be the dreams we need .
I wanna' look like love I wanna' look like, live like faith I wanna' live this life in me showing my face   I wanna' look like hope I wanna' look like, live like grace And I know just where to start I'll let you be my beauty mark

 
Not stopping Love and joy, Peace and kindness Gentleness and self control Nothing, nothing is more beautiful
I wanna' look like love I wanna' look like, live like faith I wanna' live this life in me showing my face I wanna' look like hope I wanna' look like, live like grace And I know just where to start I'll let you feel my beauty mark

I'm gonna' let you be my beauty mark
I wanna' look like hope (look like hope) I wanna' look like, live like grace And I know just where to start I'll let you be my beauty mark

I'll let you be my beauty mark

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Hello!!

Just dropping in real quick to say HEY!!!
 Today has been a pretty good day. Almost didn't go to church because the weather looked nasty, but my little man came out all dressed in his suit and hat and was eager to go! Plus the Word was on point today!! How can you pass that up, plus my big girl wanted to go even though she's at her dad's for the weekend! Thank you Lord for moving on the hearts of Your children! Sometimes the kids keep the parents motivated!  
  
This is my man Keeland!! So sharp and ready to go to church!! The only thing that was missing were the sunglasses! LOL  He said "mama, take my picture and put it on your FB page! WOW little man in the making.  I wish my baby Makayla would let me take her pic, but she is like her mother, camera shy if she doesn't look JUST right, LOL. She gets it honestly!!

We enjoyed our day. Took my mother out to eat which was nice, so it was girls afternoon. Mark had to work, and Keeland had practice at church. Now we are just home waiting for daddy to get here! YAY! 

I posted another funny picture on FB:
This was out on the counter yesterday morning when I got up! I am thinking "uh oh, Mark must be trying to tell me something! Maybe I am blogging too much" LOL.  He didn't put them there, He said " Wasn't me, the Holy Spirit must be telling you something" LOL.  I started cleaning anyway! HAHAHA. 

Also, our date night didn't go exactly as planned, we still had a good time but we were unable to see Courageous. They were sold out! :(   We enjoyed ourselves at Starvin Marvin's spending time together over a nice meal! Guess we will have to catch the movie on DVD! Plus we got ate up by mosquito's while waiting. But we still had a fun!

I want to thank everyone for all the encouragement and support. People are  telling me I am blessing them but you guys are blessing me! I know this blog is straight from the Lord, because I am not a reader or writer by nature. Neither are my "thing" LOL.  I am a very background person. Funny story, this is not to brag at all, but we were at church one Sunday and I felt led to go up to the altar to worship. This is a BIG, HUGE step for me, I mean BIG! Sunday services are packed, but I went. I was enjoying the presence of God, and one of the associate pastors came up to start announcements, the music was still playing and I was lingering. Well I opened my eyes, WHY am I the only one still up there!!!!!! I was soooooooo embarrassed! I wanted to run back to my seat. Yeah doing anything that puts me in the front lines is not me, by nature, AT ALL. God is changing that, slowly! 

Thank you all again!! Please keep the comments and the support coming. I need it. Feel free to comment on the FB page or here, feedback is great!

Well I guess that's it for now! Have a blessed evening!  :-)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours!
Mark 11:24

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Blessings

Hello everyone!! First I want to say thank you to everyone that has "liked" my page on FB! What an honor! :-)  

Yesterday I shared some of the struggles we face since being at home, but today I want to focus on the good things! They far outweigh the struggles. I promise this post won't be as long as yesterday (mama) LOL. But God has been extremely good to us during this time, and really shown Himself in a new way in our lives.

Just a few of things we have been blessed with are:

  • The kids and I were able to enjoy a day at Schlitterbahn free of charge, courtesy of KFDM. I won tickets earlier this year. Mark had to work :(   But Makayla's wonderful grandmother Carolyn came along with us to help me out!
  •  I won a gift card to IT'Z Pizza in Pasadena by taking a survey, so the whole family had a blast doing that!! I think Mark and I had more fun than the kids!  :-) I only had to pay $38.00 for 6 of us (well 5, Kayla brought at friend, and Kalena is free) Really good deal!!
  •  I received a few surprise checks in the mail that came in "right on time"
  • I was able to be here for my babies first days of school, and able to help them cope with the adjustments that go along with that!
  • My wonderful sister and brother in law blessed us with the entire Dave Ramsey Financial Peace packet at Christmas before I even decided to stay home. The Lord knew we would need that (gotta get better about using it though)  :-)  But it did help us establish a budget and set goals!
  • Our relationships with each other have gotten better. During my time off after having Kalena, Makayla told me I seemed so much happier when I didn't go to work. Was I that bad?  
  • Of course, I am enjoying seeing my Kalena grow into this independent little toddler! I love this and we have fun together. It's not always easy, but it's worth it. I get to watch her personality develop, I was able to see her take her first steps, and hear her first words.
  • Mark has found tremendous favor on his job, and has been able to minister to many people there. God is moving in big ways through him. I also get the privilege of bringing him lunch at least once a week so we can have little lunch dates during the week! Kalena likes to see Daddy too!


 So these are just a few blessings, I could go on and on but I promised this post wouldn't be as long! LOL Well I guess that's it for today. You know me, I say that, and I end up posting again. I probably will because Mark and I are getting to go on a movie date this evening and I can't wait! That's another blessing, my mom doesn't mind watching the kids for us since she doesn't have to do it everyday anymore, lol. We are going to see Courageous. I know I will have something to blog about after seeing that! I also found this great site called Epon, it's kinda like Groupon but for our area. They have some really good deals where you can purchase restaurant certificates for half off. Thinking about doing that! Plus I got a free movie ticket so this will be a great date on a budget!

Well have a blessed day everyone! Thank you all again!

God knows the secrets of the heart....
Psalm 44:21







Friday, October 21, 2011

Grateful

Good morning. First I want to say for anyone that subscribes or follows me, please excuse the email you may have gotten about sponsoring a child. I meant to post that as a link on my page, and instead made a post about it. Maybe God meant for it to happen that way, but it was not my intention. I don't want to bog you guys down with emails! Also I want to thank everyone that reads, subscribes, follows or comments. All of these things means sooooooooooo much to me. I apologize if you tried to comment and couldn't, or commented and never saw your comment post. I had to change the way the comments posted to the page because of an error with the template in Blogger, but it's fixed now. I also cannot see any of my followers so I don't know what's up with that. I have just been telling everyone to leave comments anonymously and leave your name in the comment if that's easier.

I don't want to get wrapped up in numbers. I see how easy that can be when you are anew blogger, but the Lord told me to write this blog for Him. Don't make an idol out of it. I will admit it is fun to see how many people read the posts. I really don't get caught up in the page views anymore because half of them were mine! LOL  In the beginning I didn't know you could turn off the tracking of your own page views so......I am learning!  :-)  Everyone that knows me knows I am not a very outspoken person (unless I am upset, lol) I prefer to be in the background. Blogging has given me the outlet to share things I wouldn't normally share. It's given me a voice. I love it!! :-)

I also started this blog with the intention of making a little money. I began with posting ads, but it felt weird, and didn't look very good (to me). I know I probably could've changed the design, but one day I felt the Lord whisper to take them off. I'm like huh?? "Lord we can use any extra money we can get" (not that I would've made a ton, but a few extra dollars would help). He said "Remove the ads, don't prostitute your blog". WOW!!! Again, HUH Lord??????. Now please do not take any offense if you do this. Everyone makes blogs for different reasons, and maybe I will get clearance later to do that. Believe me, I ignored Him for a few days. It didn't make sense. I mean we are supposed to try to increase right? Well, for me He said no. Again I certainly, by no means at all judge anyone that does that. Every time I see one of those pretty blogs with all those ads, I think, wow they are probably getting checks every month. Even if it's a small amount, it's something!! All I could think is how much money could I make. He resounds with "I am your provider".  Ok.....

I know this is part of my lesson of learning to trust Him. I am so used to having money to do what we need, or what we think we need! Being on one income is hard work!!!! There are many, many, many days that I struggle with thoughts of  going back to work. But I have to count up the cost with that.....daycare, bugging my mom to pick up my kids from school, school holidays etc. I miss the security of that paycheck once a month. I HATE having to tell my kids they can't get those shoes, that game, we can't drive all over town because we have to save gas, no going out to eat often. It's not fun at all. They get tired of hearing it, and I get tired of saying it, but that's the way it is. I guess that's why I am not working. Was all that extra income really being put to good use, or was it fun money?? We are tithers and givers but what were doing with all that money after that. It went something like this.......Ok God, we have done our duty by giving to you, NOW LETS SHOP!!!!!!  Uh no. Wrong answer. That's what we did though. We shopped and ate our money. Now I have to plan and evaluate spending for every dollar, since I have been given the wonderful task of budgeting it all.  We budget and it's hard to stick with it most times, but I have too. I have to account for everything. It's not FUN!!! And it takes TIME! I get jealous when I see people eating out with their families, and see my kids faces when their friends get that new thing they have been wanting. I worry alot but we know what God says about that. In His Words he tells me, I Got This!! Trust me!! You won't see your situation change until you TRUST ME!!  Don't get me wrong, there are occasional treats but not nearly as often as before. I used to be able to run to the store and get whatever, whenever. Maybe that was the problem! Were we really better off before? From a natural standpoint most would say yes, but spiritually how were we?

I believe God is preparing us for a blessing beyond our dreams. But I also know we have to be prepared to handle that blessing. Our mindsets have to change or we will be in the same predicament as before. More money but still living paycheck to paycheck. I am understanding more and more what it means to renew your mind. I thank God all of our needs are met. Now before anyone says, "well they probably get food stamps, so whats the big deal"??  Well I will answer that, yes we do, but $36.00 a month for a family of five doesn't go far!! Everything else has to be budgeted for or waited on.  The majority of our bills are paid each month on time (or pretty close) I do get to take the kids to McDonald's or Jack in the Box once in awhile. God has raised up people to help us in difficult times.  I know this probably sounds like a pity party, but it's not. I just do what I can in the natural, and God handles the rest. I have learned to be creative with things, and we have all learned to be content. It's purging us of needing gratification and things from the world. Half of the things we think we "need" are not needs once we have to wait on them. God has to be our source now. But I can say without a doubt we will know how to manage our boatload when it comes in!!!  :-)  Until then we wait, we pray, we praise, we give thanks, we are grateful.

I was really excited this past week, because for the first time in a long time we made it to the next paycheck with a little money left over, and a little in our savings. Sooooooo much better than meeting the next week with a negative balance praying that nothing is needed before the next payday. I have to say that God is soooooo awesome and such a good provider that when we have one of those weeks and I am in FULL panic mode, it's amazing how the gas in both the cars lasts, food lasts, and nothing runs out! I am expecting to have to buy something, but nope. It never runs out!! To the point where I don't have to spend any money. And we make it to the next payday!! I know it has everything to do with the tithing principal. But God still calls us to be good stewards over what we have. We are working on that!! I have even prayed for God to take away my desire to shop, still working on that, but it's coming along!!  LOL    :-)

Today started out as a blah kind of day. I didn't wake up in the best of moods thinking of things I needed to do, bills to pay, plus the other children and husband demands placed on me for the day. I was met with phone calls, and didn't receive the response I would have like to receive when I made a suggestion to someone close to me. My feelings got hurt! Bad. Was it serious? Nope, not at all. I just let it get the best of me. I needed to spend some with God. I needed that reminder of how grateful I should be. Things really aren't that bad. I was reminded of a mother I read about in one of Joyce Meyer's magazine. She is a single mother of 3 living in a remote part of the country. The twins were born premature, and very malnourished. The other child was about 4. Joyce Meyer's ministries has setup a hospital and feeding station in her area, but it's a two hour walk! I can't imagine! But she desperately needs the services for the babies, so she goes!  When I looked at her picture she was smiling. WOW.  She is grateful. She has to carry her twins on her back, and her other daughter helps her carry the grains for food they receive back to their little shack. The food lasts them a month, but they are grateful. It puts things in perspective, really fast.  I am grateful. We are extremely blessed, and I know it's just a matter of time for our situation changes!!

Praise GOD! He really is Jehovah Jireh!! :-)

I didn't write this post for you to feel sorry for our family, I just like to be real and transparent. You never know who is in the same situation as you. You are not alone! But through this we have grown closer to the Lord, and that is worth more than 10 jobs and bank account full of money!! Remember don't worry, because "God's Got This"!!  :-)

Be blessed!!

Psalm 40:8 (NLT) I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”


Philippians 4:6 (NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Surrender

I hope I am not posting too often, but there is just so much that comes to mind, usually at night, that the next day I can't wait to post!!

Surrender. We sing the song in church, I surrender all. We lift our hands, cry out loud, bow down, but have we surrendered? We sing louder, cry louder......are we crying out to the song, or to The One that can deliver if we surrender? God wants all of you. Every part of you. He is too good to settle for less, too supreme not to want the best. There is good in you, lots of it.... for you were made in His image. Accept His Son..... the Holy Son Jesus! Invite Him into your heart. That is where the surrender starts. Surrender it ALL once and for all,  be free! Free to love, praise, worship, give and trust. I mean really praise, and worship. Not the ritual you do in church for the attention of others. But just you and God......alone. Enjoying each others company. That's what He wants......that's what you need. Sing to the deliverer, don't sing to the song, preacher, congregation, or to yourself. Sing to Him. Make a joyful noise.

I saw a video of a worship service where a cloud of gold dust settled in the sanctuary. I wasn't there so I can't say how it felt. Naysayers say it can't be real., but what if it is? Are you ready for the Glory Cloud to overtake you?? Are you ready for the Shekinah Glory of God to invade your life? Your mind? Shake you to the core? Jesus is the rider on the White Horse, and He will come with might, power and strength. Are you ready?? Can you handle the Glory of  The One....... The Anointed One?? Surrender it all, let it go. Release it to Him so when the Glory Cloud comes you aren't so wrapped up in yourself , situations, failures, and heartaches that you can't worship Him in His presence. You were created to worship, not the creation.......The CREATOR! You were created to worship in Spirit and in Truth. Do you know Truth?? Do you know the Spirit??

It takes surrender to say "Jesus I can't do this alone, I have tried and failed, I will continue to fail without You. Jesus you hung, bled, died, and rose again so that I may be FREE! Take my heart, break it,  mold it, INVADE it". He loves those requests! Like a doctor trying to revive a heart attack victim, He will massage your heart to get the Holy Blood that was supposed to flow in your veins from the beginning of time but has been blocked and tainted due to life, to flow back to your heart where it belongs. Your heart will beat differently. He will remove the bricks, bricks of shame, bricks of defeat, fear and loneliness.......one by one, as He is a gentleman. He won't rip them apart. The Master Carpenter will make a path and build an archway around your heart with those bricks as an entryway, for HIMSELF. Let it flow. Let your DNA be remade. Surrender!! He is calling your name.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)     I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

David Garibaldi Jesus Painting

What a day!! God is AWESOME

Good evening my friends!! Today has been a day, a day that I wasn't expecting. When God does something He does it BIG. He is not a little God, but a God that spans the universe. I am still in awe. Hope you have a few minutes because this one will be lengthy! Stick with me, you won't regret it, I promise!

Well you are probably wondering what I did for my few hours of downtime. The highlight of that was vacuuming! LOL Yes you read correctly, vacuuming. Kalena hates the vacuum! So I either have to put it off, or hold her while doing it, neither is good! Oh and I got my car inspected. Another plus that was about 5 months overdue. Thank God, all the cops were too busy doing other things to notice! My wonderful mother was about to break out the belt for a good old fashioned whooping if I didn't go. Couldn't let that happen, LOL. So that was it for my rest time! But it was good, ooooo I almost had to play animal rescue looking for my mothers precious little apricot poodle Apollo! All I could think was, Lord please let us find him otherwise my father will be trying to send my mother to some counselor, psychiatrist or the emergency room!! Yeah don't ask about Baylor, Amanda, or that first year of college, she still shudders. LOL, But anyway, you are probably wondering about the GREAT thing God did today. Get to the good stuff already! LOL Well here goes.

Where to start is the question. Ok from circumstances that I cannot explain nor anyone else involved can explain I reconnected with my biological father today. This has been something I have been praying about for the past few months after running into a cousin in Wal-Mart. Thank God my mother was with me because I didn't at the time no anyone from that side of my family. After talking briefly with her, I knew I needed to find my family, and my father. Before we go on, years ago God raised up a wonderful man to be my daddy! He is and will always be my daddy. He was there from the time I was two until now, and even went to the pains of officially adopting me at the age of 10. I became a Babineaux from there on! He loved me, and treated me as if I came from his very loins. His daughter (my sister) from a previous marriage has always been my sister. We were always treated the same, and he never made differences between us and made sure we didn't either. I love him for that, he is wonderful, a God-send to me and my mother. But even he would tell me to always remember Jerry. :-)  That was my father, and time, nor anything, nor anyone could change that. Even when I was too immature to accept it, he would always remind me.

In my late teens I prayed to meet him. God answered. This was our first official meeting that I can remember, however I wasn't ready for all that came with that. He wanted to be daddy, and that wasn't happening. I had one, didn't need another one. We butted heads, alot!! He was religious, I wasn't trying to hear that, especially from him. It's enough that I have his chin, his squinty eyes, and his fingernails, but he wants my heart too? Not going to happen!! Well time goes on, I move on. No time for that. I have babies, get married, yada yada. We reconnect again. This time I am a little older, and a little more accepting. My daddy says, don't push him away, give him a chance. He's trying. Still not really trying to hear that, but I am christian now so the right thing to do is try, right?? He and Mark hit it off. I try but can't connect, Mark can't understand why. He's pushing, it's like pushing against a brick wall, that wall is my heart. He's trying...... I'm not. I'm older, I have a family, I have a daddy, don't need another one. Some christian attitude right?!. We lose touch, and that's ok...... In my mind I say if he really wanted to find me, he knows how. 11 years go by. Little did I know, he was hurting. Rejected, refused, abused, mentally drained. Did I do all that??? He loves me with a love that only a father can! He suffers, I however go on.

Or so I think. Until that day in Wal-Mart. It's time Lord, it's time. So here we go, where do I start Lord?? Am I really ready?? I actually get a number. I call, it's not him, but a neighbor. He can barely breathe and tells me to call back tomorrow so he can deliver the message. Little did I know, Jerry got the message, but the neighbor is not stable so he blows him off. Yeah right, she can't be calling me. I don't deserve it, those are his words. The neighbor has mental issues, and no one believes anything he says, but poor thing, this time he got it right. I never call back. I plan on it, but I don't. If he wanted to talk he would call my mom. He didn't so oh well. But I couldn't give up on my extended family, facebook served it's purpose as far as connecting me with them. I felt honored, blessed,and  accepted that they wanted to know me. The puzzle was coming together. It felt good. God was in the mix. I didn't know God would allow my son Keeland to play summer basketball with a cousin we didn't know existed, nor did they know. Is that why they hit if off so well in the beginning?? I didn't know I would see pictures of my great great grandfather. Beautiful! God is awesome!!! He planned it all out. Ask and you shall receive!!

So here we are today, 10/19/11. My mother's phone rings, his phone rings. They both say hello, reluctantly because the number shows restricted on one end, and not recognizable on the other. They exchange a few words. He thinks she's a bill collector, lol. My mother is so professional. He thinks, "O Lord what have I done" He tells her his name, Jerry, hmmmmm, she says well this is Michelle. She asks, Jerry who??? Granger perhaps, nawwww it couldn't be. IT IS!!! He is walking in the street, forgets where he is for a moment, how can it be. It's impossible, I didn't call you, you didn't call me, but our phones ring. Divine intervention. My God, you knew the day I would be ready. Am I ready? I am ready. I call, no answer. Five minutes later, I call back. Is this really me?? I actually can't wait to hear his voice. He FINALLY calls, I can't wait to talk. We talk, and talk, and talk. He's on FB. He found me awhile back. He tried to message me but my chat is turned off. He doesn't know how to send a a message. It's new to him so he waits. He didn't know how it would happen, but he knew it would. And God answered His son, with his daughter.

For the past few days, I have been seeing scriptures on healing. I'm not sick, or was I?? Was I harboring a disease called unforgiveness that I didn't know I had? Was the stench that bad to my Heavenly Father's nostrils? I want to please Him more than I want to breathe, so I had to get healed. In His graciousness He couldn't let His daughter remain that way. It's time My Child, it's time.  Now I can bless you like you've been wanting. Let it go, and let Me go. Into your heart and clean it for you. It may not feel good at first, but oh is it worth it!
I am so grateful for this opportunity, I can't even express it. There are no words, except a humble Thank you Lord!!

So that's my story. He is a proud grandpa to 3, and a wonderful father. I now have 3 fathers. One who looks down and see's His daughter is trying, but still has a way to go, still has some junk to release. My heart is ready. One earthly daddy that is my heart, will always be, no one can take that place. He took me in, loved me, loved my children. He is the best papa in the world!! And then there is Jerry, my father. He has blossomed, been through hell and back. But he's back and that's all that matters, that's all that matters.
I am so honored that the Lord has blessed me and my family so, and I wanted to share.

Perhaps you have feelings you need to let go of, perhaps you don't know. You may be like me. Loving the Lord, but not fully surrendering it all. I shared the other day about the Lord searching my heart. Well I guess that came up in the search too. I thought I was done, but God want's every part of your heart clean. Not just a little but all! Let it go. I know it's scary, it's unfamiliar territory, but it's worth it. He will not allow you to be hurt in any way. Trust me, I know! And trust Him because He is trustworthy.

I love you all! Thank you for reading and I pray you are encouraged, I know I am. And please know, I cannot and won't take any credit for what has transpired today. God was molding me and preparing me, and I didn't know it. I was comfortable where I was. Didn't think I needed to change. But GOD!! The only thing I can boast about is what my Lord has done. I am so grateful. My God is a miracle worker. He blesses us with what we need, even when we don't know we need it.
Luke 17:4 
Psalm 130:4
Jeremiah 30:17
Psalm 139:23
Psalm 139:1

Here are two prophetic words I read on a friends FB page, I knew the Lord was talking to me, but I didn't know about what at the time. 
You are My offspring, says the Lord. You belong to Me. The past days, months, or even years of struggle are becoming a thing of the past as I prepare you for this time of new things. Refuse to allow the fears, disappointments and failures of the past to dictate your current course. Allow Me to bring forth a transformation. I will heal the brokenness of the past and give you new hope for the future.~M. Burns     Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
There are places in you that have required healing. Until now you have received a measure of healing, but I am releasing the full measure in those who will believe wholeheartedly and without any fear or doubt. Your faith has been prepared to receive all that is necessary, but you must exercise and put into action the faith that you've been given, says the Lord. Only believe, and you will receive.~M. Burns   Mark 11:23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Thank God for Granny's!

Well good morning!! As you see I didn't get to really post anything yesterday except for the Kari Jobe song, which I love!! I pray you got a chance to view it, if not, check it out. I am so excited today!! I get a few hours of quiet time, thanks to my wonderful mother. Trying to make the most of it. There is so much I can do, wash clothes, dishes, cook. Or just rest! I love my littlest sweet pea, but the toddler side of her is shining ever so brightly! LOL   She doesn't like those long naps anymore, well she likes them in my arms instead of her bed, and after a brief nap last night, and lots of tossing and turning we didn't get back to sleep until 3am! But thank God I wasn't too sleepy this morning, well no more than usual. So I am pretty excited to be able to do nothing for awhile. I feel bad complaining, I know so many women who long to have children, or who have lost children, so I really shouldn't complain. I almost felt like a bad mommy for getting excited, and I do miss her, but I forgot what it was like to have a little one around. She may be small but she is quick!! Those little legs get around quickly and those lungs are really strong!! LOL  For those of you that haven't seen my sweets before, here she is:

Isn't she adorable!! But see that look, that's the "I know I am doing something I am not supposed to but you are too busy taking a picture of me to care!!" So I am really enjoying my quiet time. It's weird not to hear the sounds of Little Bill, and Yo Gabba Gabba, but it's a good weird. I gladly traded an unplanned date night with my hubby Saturday for a few hours of me time!! Don't tell Mark, though!  We can't have granny burnout so I had to make a choice!  :-) Well I guess that's it for the time being. God is good, and I love all my babies, but every now and then I see you need a little time for yourself. Speaking of that I am heading out, that time flies really fast!!  Have a blessed day everyone. I will probably post later, so stay tuned!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Have you offended God?

I know I posted once today, but this just hit me hard. I was gong about my regular routine, getting ready to fix my breakfast (yeah it's late, lol)  In my spirit I felt something was wrong, I didn't know what. Hadn't done anything unusual, Kalena was fed and quiet. I was hungry, but couldn't eat. So I prayed. I looked at my scripture for the day, it was Psalm 139:23  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20139:23&version=NKJV. Ok, so I'm thinking I guess there is something I need to confess. So I go through that, kinda like a ritual, which is not what God wants. So I still feel it, ok, I read the psalm for the day, Psalm 17, just to see if get more clarification. Talks about pretty much the same thing, examine me Lord, know my thoughts, you know my heart. Ok, still nothing, I go back to Psalm 139, Verse 24 sticks out big!! Psalm 139:24 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20139:24&version=NLT, Love the way the NLT puts it. Point out anything that offends you. It hit me, I began to think of many ways I may have offended God. Impatience, disobedience, partial obedience, the list goes on. What the Holy Spirit shows me is my trust in God. Dear God, I have offended you by not trusting you. OMG, I have called Him a liar, saying He is not capable of providing, and opening doors. Saying His Word is not enough for me to stand on in the midst of challenges I face. Last week in Isaiah 36 I read about how Hezekiah was being threatened by the King of Assyria, and the king sent his prophet to mock the God of Hezekiah, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2036&version=HCSB.  The king didn't care anything about the God of Hezekiah, and when Hezekiah prayed he told God that, well God told Hezekiah what would happen to the King because of this. Don't think you can mock God and get away with it, He may be silent for awhile but He is listening. I began to reason with God like Hezekiah, these people don't care about God, Entergy wants their money, the mortgage company doesn't care about God, I can't call and say well God said, wish it was that easy but they are a business and that's that. But God said, I know you can't change that, but I can. I am God, and every knee will bow at my name, I will provide for you, just TRUST ME!! I know this came from the Spirit of God, because I never would've thought of that. I know I get offended if my kids don't believe what I tell them, so how much more does God get offended. He is offended ALL day long, by lifestyles, words, actions, the things we watch, speak and hear and our thoughts. We think our thoughts are a private matter because only we know them, but don't forget God sees your heart, your soul, your mind. He knows those deepest thoughts that would cause others to shutter, cause others to question if you are really a Christian, thoughts that may cause you to question your faith. Thank God for the blood of Jesus that cleanses us and makes us right again. Lets examine our thoughts today, and let's not offend God.

Good morning!!

Just dropping in to say hello!!  :-)   Thank you to everyone that has visited my blog! You may be wondering why I named my blog God's got this! Well it helps me to remember who is really in control of everything that is going on in our lives. Our little family has been through some pretty big changes this past year. Having a new baby was the first BIG change, but was certainly a blessing to us all. I lost my grandmother in that same year, which is sometimes still difficult to comprehend, my husband lost a job, got a new one, and I came home. My children also started new schools this year, which was a BIG adjustment for my big baby girl. But the Lord has seen us through it all. It hasn't been easy by any means, some days are still a struggle, but God!! :-)  I see the Lord working mightily in my children, especially Makayla. Yes I am going to put her on the spot for a minute! Makayla started a new school this year, by her choice I might add, *side-note* she now believes her parents should make all her choices for her, DUH!! LOL   But anyway this was a very difficult transition for her and me as well. She wanted to go back to her old school, of course, don't we all want to do that when things are uncomfortable. Hate to get off track but it reminds me of the Israelite's  when they left Egypt. It was comfortable there, even though they were being oppressed, beaten, depressed and everything else. But they wanted to go back for the good fruit they received. Man, fruit can really get you off track if its not the right kind, or used for the wrong purposes (Adam and EVE). People will sell out for a piece of fruit! But back to the story, not saying that Makayla was oppressed or anything similar at her old school, but she felt it was time for a change. Well when the change came it wasn't what she expected. We both cried. Now mind you, nothing bad or traumatic happened, but it was different. Lots of new kids that most already knew each other from last year. Her good friend went there, but of course they had no classes together. She did hook up with two kids from her old school, but they only had 1 or 2 classes together. Then she meets up with some girls from her old school and swim team but ironically they all seem to have amnesia when it comes to seeing her. She is crushed! Well praise God, it's all good now! We prayed everyday all day. God really showed himself to Makayla in a strong way through this time. And for that I am grateful, prayerfully she is too! She knows God is there for her, Jesus is walking beside her, and there is nothing without God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that she can't overcome. All of her teachers love her, and she has found tremendous favor. God is awesome!! My family prayed us through alot of it, because some days I just wanted to pull her out, my family wanted me to pull her out, her dad wanted me to pull her out, but I felt the Lord leading me to leave her there. That was a very HARD decision. She probably didn't like me very much for most of this time, but I remember one evening after school, I felt the Lord tell me to tell her she must trust Him, He was using this opportunity in her life to build a lifetime of  trust for Him, wow. I got chill bumps just thinking about it! I told her that, and we both broke down. That was a very profound moment in my life and hers. Not what she wanted to hear, but He was right (like He could be wrong, NOT) I am still amazed! But like I said it's all good now, and she has new trust in The Lord that I am so grateful for. I am realizing there comes a time in your child's life that they must learn to trust God for themselves. I can pray all day but it's up to them really. I want my children to know that God cares about every little detail in their lives no matter how big or small. And that also helps me remember that He cares about every detail in my life too! I have to trust Him. How can I tell them to do it, if I am not willing, ok the Lord is speaking to me now! Well I probably got all off topic but that is what came to my heart! God is good yall! Trust Him and watch Him work it on your life. I leave this scripture as a reminder, my favorite one, but one that I still struggle with obeying sometimes!

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Do you trust in your money more than God???

 This is actually an old note I wrote on FB back in June, so I guess I am kinda cheating, but I wanted to post this until I get a chance to write something else! I needed this reminder today, BAD!!  :-)

A thought came to my mind this morning. Trusting in money over God. I know I am guilty of this big time!! Please, please don't put your security in money or things. I know I have found myself being obsessed with my bank account balance, thinking " If only I had this amount, I would feel secure" Bad choice!! Wow I made an idol out of money without realizing it! Change the way you view money, yes God wants us to save and plan, but remember to put your trust in Him and Him alone, not your job, children, cars, and especially not yourself!! God wants to know that you will trust Him if you have a negative balance, or if you have a million dollars in the bank. God loves you and He is Jehovah Jireh, He will provide for you in ways that only He can receive the glory. Think of Gideon. God used the smallest amount to accomplish his task, so Gideon and his army could not take the credit. God will take care of His children! He promised. It's amazing the things we put our trust in, for example, a chair, you trust that when you go to sit down, it will hold you up, your job, you trust on payday they will have your check, oh how much more should we trust the Lord, the maker of it all!! If you don't think you can trust Him, just tell Him, He already knows! Just pray Lord I want to trust you but I don't know how! Now that's a prayer I have prayed!! Lord I want to believe you, but help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24) That's pure honesty!!He loves you so much, He will not let you stay in the dark any longer than you allow yourself too! God is such a protector, He will also not allow certain things to happen to us until He knows we can handle it! So....if you have been confessing for that raise and haven't gotten it yet.....look at how you handle your money now, that could be a clue into why it hasn't manifested yet! He wants you to have wisdom with the small amounts before you get the boatload. Besides it's all His anyway!! He loves you, are you willing to trust the One who sent His son to die for you???
2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, His way is perfect;The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
2 Kings 18:20 You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?
Romans 8:32. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

First blog ever!

Well I am a little nervous to say the least, this is my first blog and I am not really sure what I will even write about! But I am excited also. God has been doing and is doing some wonderful things in our lives! Well I guess I should start out by telling you a little about myself. I am a 34yr old Christian (lover of Jesus) wife and mother of 3. 1 boy (7) and 2 girls(12 and 13 mths) Yeah I know I started over! LOL  That last one was a big surprise. :-) My husband and I have been married for 8 yrs after dating for only 3mths, WOW, God is awesome! I recently became a SAHM in March of this year (2011). Like I said earlier we had a baby last September, and due to complications she was born a few weeks early. But thank God everything is great! She stayed in the NICU for almost a month, coming home on 10/3/11. So I went back to work in December but of course I missed my baby, so my husband ok'd me to stay home, and yes I said ok'd. That's what you do in marriage, it's not onesided you know!! :-)  So here we are. It has been a journey, alot more work than I expected, and I feel the Lord compelling me to do more. It has not been easy by any means, but I have been here for moments I knew I needed to be. More on that later. But that's it in a nutshell. Well I guess I will end it here, so I will have something else to write about later!! LOL   Bye for now. And God Bless!!!