Are you Blessed?

Lately it seems I keep running into people that I have very short conversations with that turn out to be very meaningful. I wrote about one the other day in my post titled "A Fresh Day" and today while stopped at the guard post for a gated community to sign in to be able to show homes I had another one. While signing in with one of the guards another one on the side decided to engage me in a conversation. It went like this:

Me - Good morning

Guard - Good morning! Are you as blessed as I am today?

Me - Yes I am because I have Him. (I pointed up)

Guard - Well then young lady you are living on higher ground!

Me - Yes I am!

Guard - Well, now you have a great day selling houses!

I wish as you read those words you could have heard the absolute joy in his voice. I can't remember a time I have come across someone that seemed so full of happiness. In his, what some people would view as a meaningless job, he chooses to be a blessing to people as they come to the gate. I wonder if he knows how much he blessed me today. I want to be more like him!

Great word Today

Everyday I read the daily devotion from the Utmost for his Highest. Today's really meant something to me and wanted to share it. As I continue to battle some trials and my faith is tested the one thing that stands true is HIM.

August 29, 2007

The Unsurpassed Intimacy of Tested Faith

READ:

Jesus said to her, ’Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’ —John 11:40

Every time you venture out in your life of faith, you will find something in your circumstances that, from a commonsense standpoint, will flatly contradict your faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. In fact, they are as different as the natural life and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture out with courage on the words of Jesus Christ, while the realities of your commonsense life continue to shout, "It’s all a lie"? When you are on the mountaintop, it’s easy to say, "Oh yes, I believe God can do it," but you have to come down from the mountain to the demon-possessed valley and face the realities that scoff at your Mount-of-Transfiguration belief (see Luke 9:28-42 ). Every time my theology becomes clear to my own mind, I encounter something that contradicts it. As soon as I say, "I believe ’God shall supply all [my] need,’ " the testing of my faith begins ( Philippians 4:19 ). When my strength runs dry and my vision is blinded, will I endure this trial of my faith victoriously or will I turn back in defeat?

Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it. Jesus said, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me" Matthew 11:6 ). The ultimate thing is confidence in Jesus. "We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end . . ." ( Hebrews 3:14 ). Believe steadfastly on Him and everything that challenges you will strengthen your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith up to the point of our physical death, which is the last great test. Faith is absolute trust in God— trust that could never imagine that He would forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5-6 ).

Teenager in the House

Today is Nick's thirteenth birthday. I can't believe my little boy is a teenager! It seems like only a short time ago he was just starting kindergarten and today he heads off to seventh grade. My friends Kyle and Erika just had their baby daughter a few days ago and as I watched the video proud dad put together it brought back the memories of the birth of my own boys. I remember those days as if it was yesterday.

Time is moving way too fast for this mom.

Happy Birthday Nick!

SCORE

Today my friends Brent and Kristi drop off a few things at the house they didn't need anymore. I thought they were just going to give me their lawn mower but I got so much more.......weed eater, gas cans full of gas, blower, extension cords and extra weed line. They are moving away to Tennessee and won't be needing this stuff so they were nice enough to give it to me.

Comes just in time since my lawn guy quit a couple of weeks ago. I've been looking at ways to save money but couldn't give up the lawn guy because I didn't have a lawn mower. God always works things out! Of course that means I will have break a sweat now. I told Nick that Brent suggested he start doing it and well........you can imagine how well that went over :)

Of course I would give it all back if it meant they decided not to move and stay here!

Something to Believe In

This afternoon while driving home from showing homes the thought popped into my mind how happy it makes me to have something to believe in.....specifically the belief in an awesome God. The thought came out of nowhere but I went with it and pondered it for awhile.

To have something of such great power to believe in even though I can't see, feel or hear in an audible voice brings a such a sense of satisfaction and contentment. I love believing in Him. I think at that moment I caught a glimpse of what true faith is.

I have been accused at times of not having hope, but I believe that as long as I believe in God I am full of hope.

A Fresh Day

Yesterday morning while out running I ran past a couple of older ladies that were out walking. I usually have my music on and will just nod at people as I run by, but this morning the batteries were out and I didn't have any new ones so I was running music-less (very hard to do!). So instead of a nod I shouted out a good morning to them and they responded back with a good morning and a how are you, I responded back with a fine, how are you and one of the ladies said something that has stuck with me....I'm great, it's a fresh day.

As I continued to run I reflected on this statement and thought what a great approach she had to the day. I thought about how many times I have woken up only to groan at the thought of the day ahead. So as I ran I thought of things that made it a fresh day and here is some of the things that came to mind:

It's a fresh day full of God's mercies.

It's a fresh day to serve him with all I have

It's a fresh day to serve others.

It's a fresh day to work harder at my job.

It's a fresh day to spend time with Nick.

It's a fresh day to be out running to better my health.

It's a fresh day to enjoy the good things in my life.

The list could go on and on. That lady probably doesn't know how much she spoke to me with her statement, but I tell you I had a much better attitude throughout the rest of the day because of it. Facing the day with a "fresh" perspective makes it so much more enjoyable and peaceful.

Every new morning we have the decision on how we will face the day.....may I always make the decision to face it with a spirit of "freshness"!

Amos Lee

I heard this song earlier on a drama show I was watching and as soon as the song started I sat up! I loved the voice and didn't know who it was so I started writing down some of the lyrics and then went and looked them up (thank God for google!) I found out the artist is Amos Lee and immediately headed to Youtube.

I may be behind the times but I've never heard him before. He is amazing! I have to grocery shopping at Walmart tomorrow......I just might have to make a stop in the music section.

Here is a video of the song. Amazing!

Tough Love

I did it. I kicked my oldest son out. He's been living with me for the last 4 months and I've given him every opportunity I could to get his life straight, but he just won't try and do it. I'm so tired of trying. He's 21 years old and it's time for him to grow up.

I know it was the right thing to do, so why do I feel so sick to my stomach. My head acknowledges the wisdom of the decision but my mom's heart is sad and scared. He has no job, no money and will only be able to bunk with friends for awhile. Yesterday I had a long talk with my team leader, Larry and he told me as long as I kept allowing him to treat me the way he did I would never earn his respect (my son's). Believe me it's very confusing to believe that kicking him out will earn his respect....it just seems like the opposite will happen and he will hate me.

I know some will not agree with my decision, but they have not walked in my shoes. I've dealt with him not working, coming in at all hours of the night, eating all the food, keeping his room a pigsty, spending $165 bailing him out of jail and today an argument with him calling me names because I called him out on his lack of motivation. At that point is when I told him he had tonight to get out. He's packed and gone.

As Nick and I were driving around waiting for him to pack and leave, I prayed and gave him to God. That's all I can do at this point. I pray for God's protection on his life and some how He will get through to him.

Tough love is tough! But hopefully it will benefit him in the end. I know God has had to show me some tough love at times and it's always made me stronger. I choose to believe the same for Andrew. God is into miracles!

If you want to remember us in your prayers, our family would be forever grateful.

God is where YOU are

I've had a thought on my mind for the last couple of days but I kept pushing it away because I was too busy to contemplate on it. But it fought it's way to the surface and I now understand.

Finding God is not confined to a certain church, a certain body of believers or even a certain group of friends.

As I have been going on the journey of visiting new churches in the search to find a new church home this has become clearer to me. He has led me on this journey and everyday I would pray for Him to lead me to a church where I could find Him. To a group of people that I could find Him in. In my prior church He was always there and no less than that was what I required from a new one. But God has been quietly talking to me to assure me that He is wherever I am.

It doesn't matter what church I attend He can be found because He goes with me when I go. It doesn't matter what friends I have, He walks alongside me and will be the best friend I will ever have. It doesn't matter the circumstances in my life, He is with me. This is an amazing feeling. The knowledge that I have someone that loves me enough to go with me every step I take.

I now take this with me when visiting churches. I don't feel so al0ne anymore when I walk through the doors. I don't hold back on worship, I sing loud and raise my hands in praise. He requires no less than that from me.


1O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8⁽If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
(psalm 139:1-10)

Sad News

My boy's granddad, or pawpaw as they called him, died this morning. Although it is my ex-husbands father my heart is still hurting. I knew him for over 20 years and even though he wasn't "like a father" to me he was as close to a role model of a father as I had ever known.

Mostly my heart is hurting for my boys. It was the only grandfather they had ever had and now he is gone. It will be hard on them. It will be especially hard on Andrew, my oldest. He has been in jail for the last three days (for the usual stupid stunts he pulls) and now he will always have the memory of finding out his grandfather died while sitting in a jail cell. I don't know what this will do to him.....either it will be a wake-up call to him to get his life straight or he will self-destruct as he tends to do. I pray that it is the wake-up call.

I'm sad for Ed (my ex) too. We may be divorced but we have always had a good relationship and it's so hard on me knowing that he is hurting. I have always loved and cared for him and that extended to his family. I haven't seen his family since our divorce three years ago, but I have some good memories of his father being there for us many times and being an awesome pawpaw to the boys.

Nick has kept it all in and won't talk about it and Andrew is just angry at the hospital for letting his grandfather die....it's his way of coping. It's at times like this that I feel inadequate as a mother because I can't take their pain away. Prayers for my boys would be so appreciated.

God's blessings on you and your families.