Bumps in the road ...

First let me appologized for not posting in a couple of months.  I have been letting life live me ... The past couple of months have been crazy to say the lest, but I never took control and got a handle on things.  I just let life take hold of me.  Not anymore!!! 

I have been thinking the past couple of days on life's bumps in the road.  Everything seems to be going along fine ..... then darn if things don't seem to go right.  All the plans that you made are not coming to light.  In fact, some of them are totally unraveling.  

This always, always happens when I have money in savings and planning on doing this with it or that with it.  Usually about this time of year, I plan on putting money away for Christmas.  I dont' want Christmas to be stressful and I don't have any credit cards anymore.  One thing you have to understand about me is ... I love to buy presents for Christmas.   However, something always happens and my money that I had plans for .. is gone.  You know those things ... car breaks down, an appliance tears up or etc.  Mine was my oldest son.  I am not blaming him, in the least.  It wasn't his fault, but my money isn't there anymore. 

Through all of this though I have learned a few things (it about time) ... that the Lord doesn't want us to make plans without Him.  To be honest, I haven't been asking him what direction I should be going in .. should I do this or do that.  No wonder things don't work out for me ... duh!!  The Lord wants us to bring everything to Him; nothing is too big or too small. 

Another thing is relying on Him and NOT what is in my bank account.  OHHH .. this one I am still working on ... Here again, I have to be totally honest ... this is one is really hard for me.  I can feel my anxiety level creeping up each time I look at the very very small balance that is in the savings account.  I am not putting my total TRUST in God.  I am putting it in my bank account.  Oh Lord, please be patient with me on this one and please give me your forgiveness in not fully trusting you.

Life gives us bumps in the road.  Some are small one and some are big ones.  I just try to get over them the best I can and see what lesson I am suppose to learn from them. Most of the time the Lord is trying to get my attention on something that I need to work on.  I think too that bumps in the road could be made easier if we have a good attitude about them and rely on God to help get us over them. 

I promise I will be posting more ... I have gotten to really enjoy posting, more than I thought that I would.  I just have to take one step at a time.  Not try to do too much too fast.  It takes time ......

Thanks for reading my blog and I hope that you will continue to do so.  May God Bless each and everyone of you.  May God give you Grace to learn from your bumps in life. 

Forgiveness .....

Forgiveness ..... That is the next part in Joyce's book.   I thought the last section on offenders was hard ... not.  This hit me harder than I thought.  I had more things to work through than I thought.  OH but the joy on the other side. 

In the old testament is says "an eye for an eye"; however now God is telling us to forgive our enemies, to love and pray for those who have harmed us.   In her book she says "Anything God has given us, such as forgiveness and mercy, He expects us to extend to others. If it comes to us, it should flow through us - and that should be our goal."   God forgives us .... we need to forgive others. 

We think, but it is so unfair for me to forgive them and then they just have no punishment for what they did.  Why should I have the pain while they get the freedom?  The truth is that by forgiving, we are releasing them so God can do what only He can do.  If I'm in the way - trying to get revenge or take care of the situation myself instead of trusting and obeying God - He may sit back and allow me to try to handle things in my own strength.  But if I allow Him to deal with those who offend me by forgiving them.  He can work good out of it for both parties concerned.  Hebrews 10:30 - When we forgive, we put God on the case.

I sat in the tub (I just love taking baths and sometimes the best place for me to connect to God and myself) and I just cried.  I just let it all out .. put everything out on the table.  God knows our thoughts anyway, so why not just spill your beans.   I am finally forgiving people that have done me wrong in my past.  Things that only God and I know about (and of course, the other person).   I think the crying was more from being released from the poison that was taking over my life because of the unforgiveness.  

As I prayed and released these people to God and forgave each one of them and the different situations, I could start to feel the joy and peace coming over me that I have so longed for.   It also made me think about things that were going on in my life and wondering if the poison I have had in my heart effecting those areas?  The main one I was thinking about was my weight.  Was I eating and stuffing my face because of all of these emotions and unforgiveness that I was carrying around?  I think it is ....  I ate instead of having peace.   As I thought way back to when I started gaining weight ... I am pretty sure I can connect the two.  Is this a break through that I was needing?  I hope ....

I have always heard people say that we can't have unforgiveness in our hearts.  I never thought they were talking to me.  Heck, I really didn't think I needed to forgive anyone, until God revealed them to me.  What a blessing that was for me to release it all to Him.   Thank you Lord!!! 

This is one area I am going to be praying on and reading more on .....

Still Amazed ....

God still amazes me.  I think, in a way, the way that God chooses to speak to me is kind of funny.  When I have been praying about a problem, I will turn on Joyce Meyer or pick up a book to read and "Bam" there is it .. the answer to my situation.   It happened again tonight. 

I am a person that often gets offended by other people.    I got offended today,  yet again by a family member.  I really prayed about the situation and asked God to handle things for me, because I was just tired of doing it myself.  I wasn't doing very well, by myself.  (You would think I would learn by now ... lol)  So, tonight I thought I would read a little bit in a Joyce Meyer book that I have been reading off and on.  Guess what was the chapter on? On letting people offend us!!  Holy Cow!!!  Are you kidding me????

OHHH ... how this chapter has slapped me upside the head.  I didn't realize until reading this chapter, just how offended I was getting and how God doesn't want us to be offended.  When we let people offend  us we are letting Satan in ... boy, my door must be wide open on this one.  The Lord showed me 'ALL' the ways that I have been offended in the past. 

Did you realize that by letting others offended us it can cause all kind of things to happen?  In the book it says:  One of Satan's most deceptive and insidious kinds of bait is something every Christian has encountered - offense.  Actually, offense itself is not deadly .. but if we pick it up and consume it an feed on it in our hearts, then we have become offended.  Offended people produce much fruit, such as hurt, anger, outrage, jealousy, resentment, strife, bitterness, hatred, and envy.  Some of the consequences of picking up an offense are insults, attacks, wounding, division, separation, broken relationships, betrayal and backsliding.

We meditate too much on what the offensive person has done to us, and we fail to realize what we are doing to ourselves by taking the bait of Satan.  Keep remembering that being offended will not change the person, but it does change you!!!  Oh how true ..... this one I am working on!!  It makes us miserable and steals our peace and joy, so why not prepare ourselves mentally not to fall into Satan's trap?

I asked the Lord who all I let offend me and I was surprised at the many names that just kept coming to my mind.  I really didn't realize there were so many.  Then I got to thinking about the consequences that Joyce spoke about and how it really could affect your life.  It could be causing divorces, splits between parents and their kids, between siblings, churches, and the list goes on and on. 

Thank you Lord, for bringing this to my attention and helping me change this area of my life.  I long to NOT let people offend me and for me to keep my peace and joy.  I will NOT let Satan in this door anymore.

Helping others ...

It has really been on my mind lately .. of helping others.  And it seems every time I turn around someone is talking about it too.  I watch Joyce Meyer everyday and she has been talking about helping others and last night at the coupon class, she was talking about helping others. 

It has been amazing to watch all the help that has went on in our county since the tornado came through just little over two months ago.   They actually had too many bottles of water that they had to plead with people to stop bringing bottled water.  All kinds of people helped in different ways, which ever way they could, whether it was bringing water, swinging a hammer, picking up trash or just simply praying for them.  It has warmed my heart a great deal to see such an out pour of help. 

Yea, we all help when there is a catastrophe, by do we help in our every day life?   How are some ways that we can help people each day?  There are so many ways .... but most important we have to listen to God when he tells/prompts us to help an individual; whether it is paying for the person lunch that is behind you in line, or simply helping someone across the street or to their car. 

The question keeps replaying in my head,  "What am I doing today to help someone?"  So? What can I do to help someone today .....  will let us know who I can find today to help.

What are somethings that you do to help others??  What is a favorite thing that you love to do to help others? Can't wait to hear some stories ....

I'll Stand by You ....

Have you heard the song by Rascal Flatts - "Won't Let Go"?  Have you listened to the words?  What an amazing song .... Now let me tell you why this song is so special to me.

One afternoon, while driving home in the van, from Sam's, this song came on the radio.  My oldest son & daughter started singing and I wasn't paying much attention ... until ... I heard these words .. This song is for you.  What??  And then like magic the radio seem to have gotten louder and the words were just jumping right out at me.  The tears just started flowing and I just couldn't stop smiling. 

I looked up the words and here they are for you to read.  While you are reading them .. imagine God is saying them to you.

It’s like a storm
That cuts a path
It’s breaks your will
It feels like that
You think your lost
But your not lost on your own
Your not alone

I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
If you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I wont let go

It hurts my heart
To see you cry
I know it’s dark
This part of life
Oh it finds us all
And we’re too small
To stop the rain
Oh but when it rains

I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight

And I wont let you fall
Don’t be afraid to fall
I’m right here to catch you
I wont let you down
It wont get you down

Your gonna make it
Yea I know you can make it
Cause I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
And I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I wont let go
Oh I’m gonna hold you
And I wont let go
Wont let you go
No I wont

Rascal Flatts – I Won’t Let Go Lyrics

I wish I could put into words just what these words do for me.  Of how the Lord comforts me each and everything I hear this song.  He WON"T LET YOU GO!!  He will STAND BY YOU!! He will dry our eyes and won't let us fall.  But I think the most important part is .. He knows and sees what we are going through.  He never leaves us ...   (even as I typing this ... tears are in my eyes and my heart is swelling with such excitement that it is hard to contain)

Don't miss out on letting God be there for you.  Don't miss out on that closeness with God.

Where does the time go ...

I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted.  Where does the time go???   I have been so busy with the craziness after the tornado, end of school year and my many part time jobs. 

Things are some what slowing down ... well I did say some what. 

Through all of this craziness I have learned so many things about myself.  God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle.  Also, that He doesn't bring us to things that he doesn't give us the ability to do.  When I took over running the concession stand at our local recreation department, I was scared and couldn't believe that I was taking this on.  However, it has been better than I thought.   Been really busy and crazy but I have really enjoyed it.  I have decided to continue doing it at least for another year.

I am so wanting to get out of debt.   I heard Joyce Meyer say one time that God will do what we cant' do.  But that doesn't mean we sit around waiting on a miracle.  We got ourselves into this mess and I wish God would just give us a miracle and get us out, but what would we have learned.  NOTHING!!  We haven't before.  This isn't our first time of being in this mess but I can tell you one thing for sure .. .IT WILL BE OUR LAST!!  And I am telling anyone I know .. DO NOT get into debt.  It really isn't worth it.   So this journey continues ....

I have also had some time to myself ... believe it or not.  I got to read a wonderful book ... "Walking with God" by John Eldredge ....Most amazing book.  I have been trying to spend more time with God ... reading my Bible and praying.   I think we should all long to be closer with God ... this is my longing.  This journey I am loving being on ....

There is still so much more to write about ...but I don't want to over do it.  I look forward to getting back on here and writing more about ALL my journeys in life.  Gosh .. there are so many .... Thank you Lord!!!

By God's Grace ....

By God's Grace .... and so thankful that my family was not hit by the trouble tornados that hit last week, April 27th.  A day I will never forget.   A tornado did hit my  hometown of, Ringgold, GA.  It caused mass destruction in our small town. 

I have seen so many news cast of places that tornados have destroyed, and I always felt for those people and said a prayer.  But until you actually witness one coming through your town, it just isnt' the same.  The pictures really don't do the devestation justice. 

Since, Wednesday night, I have prayed, cried, my heart has ached and I have just been plain numb.  I still can't believe that this has happened to us.  In all my 46 years, I have never experienced anything like this .. and pray that I never go through this again. 

I am not sure how many homes it destoyed in its path or businesses.  But I do know that it destroyed the high school and middle school that my kids attend and that I went too.  We have three high schools in our county and one of them is taking our students in for the rest of the school year.  We are going half a days.  It also destroyed our athletic facilities .. football field, wrestling/cheerleading building, athletic building and the baseball field.  My sons  played on that field - and one still does.  We are in the state playoffs and get to host the first series, but we don't get to play on our own field.  Thank goodness one of the other high schools in our county is letting us use theirs. 

That is one thing that I have gotten out of all this tradegy and it has been most amazing.  That even though we are country rivals and I mean rivals, we can all pull together in the mist of trouble.  Our coach has had numbers calls from other high schools in our region offering and sending us money, equipment and most important support.  It has really warmed my heart and of course, brought tears to my eyes.  It reminds me of my sisters growing up ... we can talk bad about them .. even hate them .. but don't let anyone or anything happen to them. 

There are so many stories that are coming out now ... survivors.  Of how wonderful  our Lord is ... at how he can put a tornado right over a house, but the people come out of ruble to talk about their experience.   Of how, people in the Ruby Tuesday's are living to tell their stories.  Unfortunally, not everyone was as lucky as some ... we did loose 8 people in this tornado, but we are so lucky that we did not loose more.   The tornado not only went over houses, but it also destroyed McDonald's, Ruby Tuesdays, Pizza Hut, Waffle House, 3 gas stations and 4 hotels.   People were stopping on our exit off I-75 to weather the storm .. little did they know at the time that they were in the path of the storm. 

You know .... there are so many lessons to be learned from all of this .... one is that we need to make sure we are saved and know where we are going and to make sure we are right with God, because in a blink of an eye we could be gone.  Also, that need to tell our loved ones that we Love Them!!!  We may not have a second chance to do that ....

I just want to finish with ... "Thank you Jesus" for protecting me and my family!!  For bringing out all kinds of support from people to help others in need.  It has been life changing experience.  One that we will never forget and it will forever change us .. for the better "I hope".