My Children

Today we had another fun filled day with homeschool. My daughter and I did home education, we made cinnamon rolls. I really believe God has changed my heart. A couple of months ago, I tried to show my daughter how to make something and all I did was get so frusterated with her. But today was different. I had so much fun with her, she was patient and she listened to every direction. She had fun, and so did I. And the cinnamon rolls were wonderful. Both my children have in the past been slow learners. This year they both are working very hard and they have brought themselves up. I do believe this change has also helped because I have changed the way that I have been talking to both of them. Over the summer, I tried to uplift them, telling them both that I have been proud of both of them, that God has a wonderful ministry for them. That they are handsome or beautiful. They have both shown some wonderful growth. I am so excited to see what this year produces in both of them. My son is even mentioned college a few times, this is news to me. I am so proud of both of them and I am so blessed to see their fruit bloom. It is an experience that I am so thankful that God laid on my husband's heart. If God is laying homeschool on your heart, heed the direction. You will be blessed.

Slowdown

I was watching Sunday night television, when Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came on. I always like to watch the show. This episode involved a mother's plea to finish a home that her sixteen year old son started building. Her son was also head of the family, he tragically was killed in a car accident. I was really moved, this young boy did not just take care of the family or started building the family home, but he donated his organs to others. I was so moved by this young boys life. At sixteen he touched a whole community, four other people who needed organs and left such a print on his mother and sisters hearts. I started thinking about the day and what I wanted to share tonight on my blog. It made me zone in on the discussion in my women's sunday school class this morning. Malachi 3:10 " Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." This discussion this morning was on tithing and offerings. That as christians we have an obligation to God to offer tithes to our church or other placed that we feel God is directing us. But above our tithes we need to be helping others or giving offerings to the Lords creation. This show tonight and the discussion this morning really have made a heavy impact on my heart. It is not about reconition or being better than anyone else. It is about doing the work of the Lord. I do not care who know what I am doing with the money or blessings that God has blessed us with. But, I do care what the bible says and the obediance that the Lord expects of me. If a sixteen year old teenager shows that much love toward others, where is my heart at? What am I doing to further God's Kingdom?

A long Road To Peace and Joy

Well, it has been a long road, but I am back. It is funny how you go through a trial and everything else gets put on the back burner. This summer has been a long one. Our teenager went to Oklahoma for a week and my baby went to camp for the first time. Talk about struggles, I really had a hard time letter her go. Do not get me wrong, if she was going with family, I would of been okay with it. But she went to another state. I really pulled in God for this trial. But, she made it through. In fact, when I asked her how camp was, her reply to me was, "I cried at least three nights and I got sick. So this is where I make my move, "So are you saying that you did not have fun and you do not want to go back?" " No I did not mean that, I want to go back." she replied. I had really hoped that she would not want to go back. But, life goes on and so does your children. My teenager will be 16 this year, I can remember when he was a tiny baby. Which has been making me think how short of a time I will have him at home. But anyways, this summer has been really a trial for me. A good friend moved away and there was a lot of surgeries in our family. I have also realized that I need to be a structured person. If I do not have a structure I wander around aimlessly. So, I was glad to start home school again. I am so amazed with my children, I thought that we would have to do a lot of review, but they picked up where they left off. I feel so blessed by my children and my husband. I am really seeing God's work in my heart, I have done a lot of praying and spending time in the word. Through it all I see my place as my husband's wife. I am the keeper of the home. I will do this ministry with a grateful heart and have joy. So, through this trial came peace and joy. And that is what a christians life is all about.

Teenagers

I have to share this, Sunday I was doing some extra cleaning. I was using Brasso to clean the brass around the house. Well my teenager wanted to clean something of his. I showed him how to use the brasso and I received a phone call. As I was on the phone, my son came in the room with rubber gloves, and a surgical mask on and he was holding the Brasso can as if it could explode any minute. He really caught me off guard and I started laughing at him. Oh the things we do to protect ourselves. I really am going through struggles and this reminded me of resisting the devil. We always need to cover ourselves with the word and prayer. The Lord will protect us and we have to ask. Also, remember that Satan can not read your mind, so when you resist the devil you have to yell out loud. And remember to always praise the Lord.

Attitude?!

So, I am sitting in church tonight and feeling a little down. I have not been able to walk the last couple of days because of rain. I also think food looks a little more tempting. But anyway, Pastor Mike starts his sermon on attitude. Can you believe it? He starts to talk about Joesph and his dreams, if he had listened to people down his dreams he could of become a negative person(Genesis 37). And really through all the things that Joesph goes through, he could of became negative. But, he stay steadfast and waits. Pastor Mike also talks about the Israelites and the ten spies, who come back and talked fear about the promise land. The only two that are stead fast are Joshua and Caleb. They both knew that God would get them through, and help them conquer the land. But because of fear, this caused all the rest of the Israelites to loose out on the blessings. Joshua and Caleb are the only two that will receive this blessing of the promise land. (Numbers 13:26-33). And oh my goodness let us not forget David as a boy, who knew that the Lord would help him defeat Goliath. Come on, how awesome is that. The knowledge and boldness of David, wow I would love to be like that. But of course, that is the point isn't it? I have a choice. I can choose to be negative or positive, I can choose to be bold or weak. Well I choose to be positive and bold, strong and loving. My words, body language, faith, lifestyle etc, hinges on the Lord and my attitude towards His word. I would like to see my boldness like Paul. He had so many things happen to him and he still was bold and knew his Lord. He even called himself a prisioner of Jesus Christ. He was ready to go to Heaven at any time. But, Paul also knew he had a task to fill, and that was to reach people for Christ. So, we need to get out of our little zones and start reaching people for Christ. I am going to do that. God bless anyone who wants to join me.

My Words

I have really heard lots of sermons on the "way that I speak, will be the way that I live". At first, I thought this was really ridiculous. So, I put it to the test, and sure enough it is true. Not only is it true in the world, but God has alot to say about our words. Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearer." The words that we say every day should be uplifting and loving. If we are always complaining, that will be the life we live. I am choosing to be more uplifting. See, we are to encourage and love one another. I really do not want to be a downer. Up lift your words and the Lord will show us a blessed life. Look up the word, "word" in the concordance and you will see lots of them. God even said in Jeremiah 1:9 "Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth, and the Lord said unto me, behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit there of." Well, that just clinches it, I am going to be more up beat and loving, encouraging my family and friends to be more love and not turned down. God is good and He loves me.

Submitting

I have been meeting on Saturday mornings with a group of wonderful women. We are doing a bible study called "How to be my Husband's help meet". It has been really interesting. But, not as interesting as this last chapter. It has been talking about being submissive to our husbands. But this is not even close to the sermon that our minister gave last Sunday. Which of course was on the same thing. I think I am seeing a pattern? But anyway, I am really thinking about my role as a wife to Jeff. Yes, I have been controlling and I have not had a good respect for Jeff. But, I think I have not had a good respect for my dad, either. See, I do not care if you are single, married etc, if you do not have a respect or forgiveness with your dad, you will not reverence God and or husband. I know having a good relationship with mom is important, but your dad will determine how you treat your husband. I have been really looking at this. Dad is a loving man, but he did not stand up. I think is was mom, she was a feminist who controlled the family. I realize that I am a women of God, he wants me to be meek and loving, not controlling. And Jeff deserve a loving wife and not a complaining and brute wife. So, tonight after I listened to last weeks sermon, I just let go. I have always thought that God was going to make me a minister's wife. I am not sure if this is me or God. It really does not matter, because I need to get out of the way and submit and humble myself before God. He know and I have to let him work and I do not need to get in the way. So, tonight I gave it to Him. I am not going to be full of pride or discontent. I release it all to Him.
As far as my husband, I am letting go of resentments and bitterness. I am going to be Jeff's wife and support and encourage all that I can. Because, Jeff deserves that from me.

John 8:32

Journey's

I was talking to a friend today, I had not seen her since January. While we were talking I was reminded about who I was in January. Oh, I knew the Lord. But my relationship with the Lord is so strong. I am really looking at the Lord with such a different view. I guess I always thought that no matter how hard I tried to obey God, he would not be satisfied with me. But this is not true. When Jesus sacrificed himself, he accomplished more then I could ever know. Like for instance, last month I was in the hospital. I have been really struggling with overeating and food addications. Well, as I was laying in the hospital bed, I started crying out to the Lord. I felt that I needed to just humble myself and let Jesus in. I spoke in the spirit and I started looking at Jesus with love and wanting peace. At that moment, I really believe that Jesus set me free. He delievered me from overeating, drinking soda and bindging. I have been out of the hospital now for a month and I feel great. I have walked alot, worked with weights and I am not over eating or bindging. I have had one soda and I do not even desire sweets. See, when Jesus died on the cross, he died for more than forgiveness, sacrific or healing. He died for peace, joy and love that I need to show every day. Telling people about him and living a life of his. If I can not do the will of God, how can I tell people about Him. God is more. 1 Cornthians 9:27 tells us that we must put out bodies into subjection, or we will not be good witness. Examine your life every day and release it to God.