Conversations with God

God what glorifies you?

1 Corinthians 10:31 (New King James Version)
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Psalm 50:23 (New King James Version)
Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.

John 15:8 (New King James Version)
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Prayer and Praise, Worship, our actions, the way we live all these things glorify our Father...

I sat thinkin on these things today. I want to be in a different position with my Father than I have been~ I know that there are decisions in my life that I have made that were made for selfish reasons. They were not made to glorify God...

Today I want to be in a different position, I want to come to God with all my choices being done to glorify HIM. I know that in order to get to the relationship I want with my Father, I have to put my self to the side.




Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me.

Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me,
I want more of you and less of me, yeah.
Empty me,
Empty me, yeah,
Fill, won't you fill me,
with you, with you, yeah.

Holy Fire, burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me, yeah.
Empty me,
Empty me, yeah.
Fill, won't you fill me, with you, with you, empty me now.

Well won't you empty me, well won't you empty me now. repeat x2
I want more, I want more, I want more of you, Jesus.
I want more, I want more, oh.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus, oh yeah,
Thank you, Jesus, yeah.
Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire.

Empty me~ my lifeis no longer my own. My life is God's to be used as HE choses. I set aside my desires and listen to what GOD wants me to do in this life...

Reflections on some things going on

Psalm 71:20-21
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,

you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

Recently I was put in a position where I had to make a decision between two of my children~ One child was making choices in life that were detrimental to himself and to people around him. The other child was trying to be therefor his brother and love him and accept him where he was. One night the older brother became very angry at the world and proceeded to lash out. When he found no satisfaction in hurting people physically, he then turned and destroyed everything in his younger brothers home.

My children called me to come see if I could do anything with this child. So I went to my younger son's home not sure what I would find. As I drove up I saw shattered windows and shattered furniture. My heart stood still for a moment as I thought that this could be much worse than the children lead me to believe on the phone.

I walked into my sons home, shacking at the thought of what could be awaiting me. As I entered, my daughter was there and I could see more demolition that had been done in my son's home. I could not see either of my boys and scared I was yelling where was my younger son? I could hear my oldest son screaming in another room and I began to head that direction when I was told my younger son was in the other room.

So I went to the room my younger son was in and saw even more desecration to his home. My son sat, his head in his hands, devistated. He could not believe what his brother had done to him and his home. Physically although shaken and a few small bruises he was ok~ so I went to find his brother.

My son, he was out of control, he was blaming everyone for his actions. Went so far to tell me that I was at fault for it because I gave birth to him. My heart hurt for this boy. Yet I knew that at that point, all I could do is get him out of the house and away from his siblings for their safety and his too. I kept repeating to him to leave. He kept coming at me telling me I couldn't make him.

Finally I made the decision to call the police.

It hurt to call on my own son~ I know he hates me and blames me. Yet I also know that I did the right thing for the right reasons and that I would do it again.

Isaiah 58:11
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

The Lord will guide me~ I don't know about you, but for me this is like a major big deal thing. I have such a difficult time time "knowing" the right thing to do. But if I relinquish control to GOD, well then an awesome thing happens. HE sets me on the path He desires me to be on and things become so much better in my life.

His word says that I will be like a watered garden... how beautiful is that? I think of the lush spring/early summer gardens full of lush greens and amazing rainbows of colors from the flowers and the wildlife in abundance... yes indeed I would love to be like a watered garden!

Relinquish control~ give GOD the power in my life.. that is all it takes...

God is just so AWESOME!

Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Good Morning and welcome to my early morning random thoughts!

This morning, I do as I have been accustomed to, praying before I even open my eyes in the morning. I know this sounds a bit odd~ but once I open my eyes and shift around in bed my baby and husband also begin stirring and I may have to wait sometime before I can pray. So I start my day in prayer before I even let anyone in the house know I am awake by stirring in bed or opening my eyes.

God is just so AWESOME!

How can you not start your day praising Him? In my bedroom, the window faces east~ to me this is just so wonderful because in the early morning, the sun sends it's rays of light through my window, tickling my eyelids to open and see what a beautiful day the Lord has made for me! I am truly blessed and thankful to God for this every morning.

I cannot even begin to count all the things I have to give God praise for before I even open my eyes in the morning~ I have a comfortable bed with clean sheets, warm blankets, soft pillows. These are in a bedroom inside my home where my family and I are protected from the elements. I can hear the clock ticking next to my bed, reminding me that I have electricity. There are literally a minimum of 100 things that I could name that I have to PRAISE God for just laying in bed first thing in the morning.

Back to the start of this, I was laying in bed, saying my morning prayer, when it occured to me as I PRAISED and thanked God for my wonderful life that there are some who are not feeling God's love in their lives. Some people who are very close to my heart. How do I reach these people?

I know that whenever I am not sure about something all I need to do is ask God and He will give me the answer...

John 13:34-35 Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Thats my answer~ all I need to do is love on them~ in that way they will come to know the LORD and how amazing He is.

Good Night Thoughts

It is time for bed~ my little man is a fussy kid. My awesome husband is holding him for me to give me a break.

When Allen's father was arrested, I wondered how Allen would turn out, without a father in his life... but GOD had other plans. Because he sent this amazing man to be his father. David is so amazing with Allen.Patient and loving and just totally awesome. I could not have asked for a better father for my son. He will teach my child strong moral values, something his biological father couldn't teach him. He will teach him to be strong in the Lord, something his biological father wasn't even sure he believed in. And he will teach my son to be a strong upstanding GOOD man...

It is all in God's time nad all in Gods will and when we are in the midst of something that seems so negative, all we have to do is remind ourselves that God has a plan for us~ a plan to prosper us, to gie us a hope and a future and that is where we are to remember we are going. Through the uncertain times, it is to the future that God is taking us.

Sleep

~Some Bible Verses to help sleep~


“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night” (Psalm 63:6).

“Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19a).

“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises” (Psalm 119:147-148).
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared” (Proverbs 3:24-26).

“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” (Psalm 91:5-7).

“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me” (Psalm 3:5)

“He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3-4).

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5).

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

“He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD” (Psalm 112:7).

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).

So tonight I have been thinking about surrendering to God's will~

But how do you know what God's will is? It is something I have struggled with. Then God showed me just how easy it is to know what His will is in my life~

1. I have to actually ASK Him what His will is in my life~ Go to God in prayer and ASK
2. Then I need to LISTEN~ God doesn't usually speak to us out loud
Instead, God tends to speak to us through our "conscious", through what we read,
through friends, sometimes even through strangers.
3. After that I need to do what He has told me to do. ACTION
4. Then go back to God in prayer to make sure I stay on the narrow path of His will.

I don't know what God's will is for me tomorrow~ I know what it is tonight. I know that I have to listen to the Holy Spirit when He speaks to me so that I am able to stay in God's will...

This whole being a Christian thing~ it isn't easy. God asks a lot of us~ we need to surrender to Him, be obediant to His word, and follow a narrow path. I finally after years of bible reading, going to church, and all that~ FINALLY I am getting it. To not be OF this world just to be in it~

I need to live in such a way that those outside the faith see there is something “different” about me. When we walk in LOVE~ when we do as God has instructed us~ there is no way that others could mistake us as being part of this world we live in. They will know we are set apart fro the world.

I still struggle~ by no means am I there yet. I still deal with things of the flesh. Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony are still part of who I am. However I continue to go to God and work on these...

God's will is that I overcome all of these and live in the light of His word!

Peace and Tranquility

1 Peter 3:3 & 4
Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

A conversation with a friend had me thinking about this verse~ we were discussing how there are some people where, the minute you meet them, you know~ REALLY KNOW~ that they are Christians. Before they speak, before there is action... just in seeing them you know.

Their gentle and quiet spirit, that adornment of GOD is so present in their face that it doesn't require words or actions to convince you of their faith.

Then there are these folks who act as if they are Christian, they have the words, but there is a harshness about them that makes the words and actions in conflict to the appearance.

In Romans 6~ Paul talks about how as sinners we were slaves to sin but as Christians we are slaves to GOD. I sat wondering how, when I know there are these people who wholeheartedly want to be Christians and for all outward appearances seem to be doing the Christian thing but lack that something, I guess that Peace (Phil. 4:7). God's Peace...

It really had me thinking...

Paul, again in Romans 6 talks about how the "old man" is dead and a "new man" is born... so if we are new, died and born again, how is it that parts of the "old man" the sinner is still in us?

Why are there these inner conflicts between making choices for God's instruction or sin? Some of it is things we do not even make concious decision about. What comes to mind is the spirit of judgement~ when we make judgement on a situation or person. I know for me this is something I do without thought unless I am making a negative judgement and then the Holy Spirit works on me telling me not to do it.

I feel like a failure~ that I still struggle with my sinnful self instead of being set free from sin and doing only what God requires... it makes me question my salvation... is it real since I still struggle with sin?

James 1:5~ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

So I am going to God, asking HIM to discern these things that I am conflicted by, to show me HIS truth...

Come Just as You Are

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

The story of the butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.
One day a small opening appeared.
He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours
as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole.
Then it stopped, as if it couldn't go further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly.
He took a pair of scissors and
snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon.
The butterfly emerged easily but
it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch it,
expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge
and expand enough to support the body,
Neither happened!
In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life
crawling around.
It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness
and haste did not understand:
The restricting cocoon and the struggle
required by the butterfly to get through the opening
was a way of forcing the fluid from the body
into the wings so that it would be ready
for flight once that was achieved.

Sometimes struggles are exactly
what we need in our lives.
Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us.
We will not be as strong as we could have been
and we would never fly.

The story of the butterfly really hit home for me this morning~ it is like in Zachariah 13~

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered
7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who is close to me!"
declares the LORD Almighty.
"Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
8 In the whole land," declares the LORD,
"two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it.

9 This third I will bring into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, 'They are my people,'
and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' "

Today I know that all I have gone through, all that I will go through, all of it is to form me into the person God desires me to be~ all I have to do is submit to his will, go through the struggles, and become the person I will be...

Blessed as I am, I still struggle with things of the flesh and desires that are not of the heart and always the people in my life are also having these struggles~ I go forward today knowing that all this really is to make me more pleasing to my GOD!

Godly Living
1 Peter 3

1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. 3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
11 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”
13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Blessings and Other Rambles

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

A general ramble today about the wonderful blessings of GOD~

Yesterday my husband and I went and looked at yet another house, another house that did not meet all the criteria we have for our new home. I was getting just a twinge of that questioning spirit when I realized...

I cannot be impatient~ this is something that will come to my family in GOD's time not mine and I need to relax until the perfect home comes to my family. I need not worry~

Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Matthew 6:25

I am confident that God will take care of this~ I am learning in this walk that there are times I struggle with giving up control and trusting GOD~ my flesh desires the illusion of having control over a situation, to have the feeling that I possess some thing that gives me some control over the outcomes of things around me...

However, I know that GOD is the only one with control and that is just ego and Satan whispering whenever I am trying to maintain control...

Love It~

He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has.

Thinking Out Loud!

So today has been a whirlwind of stuff going on~ however I have had a chance to think about stuff in my life and happening around me.

So first I had an epiphany this morning while I was in the shower~

I have been having some difficulty with a situation~ struggling with what appeared to be preferential treatment being bestowed upon some folks who are... well lack of a better word~ out there. These are people who have burned bridges with almost every support system that they have ever had. Yet there is this one lady~ a lady who I just could NOT understand.

Then in the shower, it came to me....

What a true and real blessing this woman is in these peoples lives! I was experiencing jealousy and realized that I had nothing in the world to be jealous over.

I have an amazing support system that includes family, friends, my church family, my husbands family, I could list 20 people I could call on if I needed help. I could name 5 people who would literally drop everything to be there for me if I called on them. I also have my faith to lean on...

These people that I was jealous over~ my goodness... they have no one left in their lives to be there for them. When they call needing help they get a lecture and a door closed on them. This amazing woman is one of the very few who still thinks that they are worth being there for. She is an awesome lady who is not only there for these people, she also reaches out to them before they reach to her. How awesome is that?

The LORD is truly awesome in providing for all who believe in HIM, even the ones who are really screwed up...

Just some thoughts

Luke 6:38 (New King James Version)
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Philippians 4:19 (Amplified Bible)
And my God will liberally supply ([a]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:12 (New Living Translation)
always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.


Proverbs 3:9-11 (New International Version)

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,


John 16:21-24 (New King James Version)
21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Galatians 3:22 (Amplified Bible)
But the Scriptures [picture all mankind as sinners] shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe [who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him].

A Prattle About....

My amazing husband~

OK so I know that I go on and on about him~ however aside from my children, David has been one of the most amazing blessings God ever gave me. He is so patient, so loving, just an awesome and wonderful man.

I spent my entire life looking, searching, trying to find a love like this...

I sit sometimes and I wonder... what did I ever do to deserve this amazing man?

This thought got me to thinking about God a little more. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has a plan for us~ in Genesis 50 we read how Joseph tells his brothers that their evil plans were used by God for good~ Romans 8 tells us how all things work together for good.

One nigh, not long ago, my husband was telling me he wondered how our lives would have been if we had met years before...

I know that it would have been a disaster. David and I both went through life events that brought us to this place today where we could be together, happy, in love, and working on making a family together. It took life experiences to get us to this place of devotion to each other.

I know how blessed I am and just how God did bring all the bad of the past together to bless me with my husband.

What did I do to deserve this blessing?
Absolutely NOTHING!

Romans 5:8 comes to mind... God is so amazing and so wonderful that while I was still a sinner, still caught up in all the evils of the world~ HE gave HIS son as the sacrafice for my sin. GOD loved me so much even when I was at my worst that HE made provisions for me to be able to come back to HIM. John 3:16 tells me this.

So as I give thanks to my GOD today for my husband and children, I also give thanks for the even more AMAZING blessing of having given me a way to be right with HIM and to come before HIM to recieve these blessings!

My God is an AWESOME GOD!

Blessings

So today I was thinking about my husband~ I actually think about him a lot but today was a litte something different...

This week I spent some time with friends who are having issues with their partners. Expectations of being waited on, lack of empathy during some emotional turmoil, no assistance with household things, just not being phyically or emotionally available.

I realized just how blessed I am with the husband I have. He is an amazing man~

One friend was telling me how she knew that if she became injured or sick that she would have to go outside her marriage to get assistance withthe basic needs she might have and needs of the house. She knows her husband will not cook, clean, or take care of her. She says she knows she would be expected to take care of it either by doing it herself or getting someone to do it.

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt if something happened to me, my husband would take care of me and that he would take care of the kids and the house. We would want for nothing in his care.

I am so blessed~

God has indeed been good to me! I have a husband who is Christian, who is all I ever wanted and then some in a husband. I cannot imagine what I did to deserve someone so awesome and amazing~ but it is with a grateful heart to GOD for my amazing husband!

Fabulous Friday!

Malachi 3
The Coming Messenger
1 “Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
2 “ But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness.
4 “ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
Will be pleasant to the LORD,
As in the days of old,
As in former years.
5 And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
6 “ For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
7 Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the LORD of hosts.

“ But you said,

‘ In what way shall we return?’

Struggles with resentments

In recent weeks I have discovered myself having GOD work in my life with issues of resentment.



A while back, I was convicted to work on forgiveness in my life. This was dealing with situations where I felt I had been wronged and harmed. Although I still have work to do in this area I know that I have made great strides.



Then in the midst of giving myself a pat on the back for this progress...



GOD brought to my attention another area of resentment and forgiveness that HE wants me to deal with.



There are certain socio/economical groups that are intentionally left without services that other groups are able to receive. For the "poor" social services are available to provide things like housing assistance, medical care, and other financial assistance. Then there are the "rich" who are able to afford services like medical care, housing, and credit for things they cannot immediately afford.



Then there is the "middle class". This economic group is not eligible for the social services that are there for the poor yet they do not have the financial ability to pay for all the stuff that they may need too. I find myself resentful that there are so many services to the "poor". What I find even more aggreviating is that it seems those who refuse to work, who have not worked, who burden the social system with demands for services are rewarded for their inability to do for themselves.

I actually have a heart for the poor and for the needs they have. I know that the social services have a place in our society. I have no problem with the services being used. However... and here is where I find myself with the resentment...

There are those people who not just use the system, but they abuse it. They don't just get the services they need at the time, but they will apply for multipole services and GET THEM!

There was a program in our community called homeless prevention... it was a great program. However the users got in and... funding stopped. Now instead of homeless prevention, the program only pays for actual homelessness. Instead of it being a program that covered even the "moderate" income families, it is now for poverty or below levels now.

So frustrating!

Bad behavior rewarded....

Why?

Choices

This morning I have been contemplating choices~

Not just those big deal choices like where you'll work, who you'll marry~ but some of the little choices we make, more often than not without much thought.

From the moment we wake up in the morning, we are making choices. We chose to open our eyes and climb out of bed, or smack the snooze button and sleep a little longer. We chose to start out the day with prayer or with physical pleasures (coffee and a shower anyone?) And so goes the day, water or coffee? toast and jelly or oatmeal? brown pants or blue pants?

I was thinking how these little choices can impact our day...

Living life with intention...

I want to live my life with intention~ with GOD as the center of all I do. In every choice I make I want to ask myself, does this glorify GOD? Is this choice bringing me into a closer relationship with GOD? Is this choice what GOD wants me to do?

And with that... it is time for me to go and do the work of my LORD and live the life HE wants me to live!

1. Excercise machines that help those "target" areas
2. The sore muscles that tell you that things are getting fit
3. Music~ isn't it just AWESOME!
4. Dancing
5. My husband washing dishes
6. A walk in the park
7. Watching my son ride his trike
8. Listening to my daughter recite her memory verse
9. Reading the bible together at dinner time
10. Having this amazing family~ my husband and children are AMAZING!

2 Timothy 2:23-24
Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful

Psychologist James J. Messina recommends five steps to facing and resolving resentful feelings. (1) Identify the source of the resentful feelings and what it is the person did to evoke these feelings, (2) develop a new way of looking at past, present and future life, including how resentment has affected life and how letting go of resentment can improve the future, (3) write a letter to the source of the resentment, listing offenses and explaining the circumstances, then forgive and let go of the offenses (but do not send the letter), (4) visualize a future without the negative impact of resentment, and (5) if resentful feelings still linger, return to Step 1 and begin again.

Monday Madness

Peace Love and Potatoe Chips this magnificent Monday Morning!

It is a beautiful day ahead~ one filled with a lot of chaos and confusion as I turn out the house and make it home sweet home again! Time for a season change cleaning!

To get this morning started, having a cup of coffee my wonderful husband made and a Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Smuckers Jelly sammich :) A fun way to get the day going! So it is 9am here in my corner of the world and in the next 20 minutes I will be moving furniture to clean under and make a new look to my ordinary life :) Floor to Ceiling, Wall to Wall it is all getting done! Starting in the livingroom!

Sunday Musings

Good Morning Dear Readers~

It is a beautiful day here today but a bit melancholy since my daughter has gone to her Daddy's for the summer. However, the little ones and I will still have tons of fun this summer anyway.

Right now I am making Sunday Morning Breakfast~ bacon, eggs, tater tots, and toast for my family. A good way to start a nice family day. Plans to go fishing and to the park are in the works. I want to go to the store and get Allen a baseball bat that is small enough for him to swing. He is such a goodpitcher, I am hoping we can teach him how to hit the ball too. He loves watching baseball on tv so.....

we will see...

I start at the gym this week~ going to work on firming up the 30 pounds I gained since I quit smoking. Not so intent on losing the weight~ but definately firming it up and getting my flat tummy back. My daughter has been giving me grief since I can't fit in her jeans anymore. So really going to work on it.

Elizabeth is doing so good~ got her report card from school and she is just amazing. She needs a little math help but otherwise she is just kicking butt.

Well going to go eat breakfast with my family~ write again soon

Adoptions, Name Changes and other such things...

Termination of Parental Rights... today I begin that process... Terminate Allen's father's rights, free Allen for adoption and get his name change done. It will take about 6 months with the whole process of termination, home study, background check and all that. But somewhere around Allen's 2nd birthday he will legally become my husbands son.

There is a part of me super excited to get the process going~ Allen and David are so close already. Seeing them together you would never guess that David hadn't been there from the day Allen was born. The two of them love eachother so much~ you can just see it.

Then there is the part of me that is sad...

Allen's biological father, despite the sick and twisted things he did in his life, really loved Allen and was there for the child until his incarseration. I know it will grieve his heart that this is happening. Yet, he made choices in his life. He chose to do the things he did that caused him to not be there for his son. So although I am a little saddened that this is happening, I know that it is the right thing to do.

There are times when I still want to just reach out and smack Ron upside the head, knock the stupid out of him, for what he did. He victimized so many innocent people with his actions. Allen is just one of his victims... one of his luckier victims.

So the papers are started, soon we have the first hearing. With any luck, Ron will not fight the termination and that part will go quickly. If he does fight it, it will still happen, it will just take a little longer. Not a big deal if it does, because even if it isn't "legal" David is Allen's Daddy and Ron, for all intents and purposes in Allen's life, is dead.

Now I am off to get things taken care of for my family (summer vacation is almost here! YAY!)