I'm listening, Lord

We are preparing for our trip to TN.  My son-in-law is getting ready to go to Iraq, my newest granddaughter is 3 months old, my youngest grandson is starting kindergarten, my other son-in-law has his orders for his next station, and we are ready to be there!

We have three vehicles..a Ford Pick-up, a Mercury Marquis and a Ford Van. We also have two teenage boys that will not fit in the back seat of the truck or the Marquis. The Truck needs new tires before a road-trip and the car's air conditioning went out (not to mention some electrical issues that have popped up). So, the van it is!

We put four new tires on the van, cleaned it out & gassed it up. I bought snacks and drinks for the trip and the boys have their dvd's and video games all ready.

Carpenter came to get the van to fix a little something (not sure what it was) while I was at work. He came in as I was getting off and said it broke down. What?? There was nothing wrong with it a lunch! An hour and a half later, it's apparently the fuel pump. The garage (fantastic people who I REALLY appreciate!) will get on it first thing in the morning - should be done by noon, they say.

Well, here's the thing. Carpenter & I took the rest of the week off for this trip. We were planning to leave very early tomorrow (2am-ish) and wanted to be back Saturday evening. It's an eight hour trip so instead of getting there at 10 in the morning it will be 8 at night. But that's if we get to leave at noon. If they can fix the van. And if there is nothing else wrong with it.

Why am I typing all of this? Because I am realizing that my God loves me and is looking out for my best interest. He knows how much I want to see my daughters and grandchildren. He knows how much they want to see us. But He also knows what the future holds. He knows whether or not the Sow and her brand-new litter will need us here. He knows whether or not my mother-in-law (a dear 84 yr old lady that lives on our property) will need us here. He knows if the van will make the 1100 mile round trip. He knows.

"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."
                                                                  Proverbs 1:33

I'm listening, Lord

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

I want to pray that he gets hit by a bus, does that count??

He is just a kid. At 20, the world says he's an adult, but he's just a kid. He wasn't raised well. He calls himself Wiccan. I could probably feel sorry for him, pray for him, even - gulp - love him if my daughter hadn't chose this one to run off with.

Ephesians 6:12 says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." If you are mad at a person, you are fighting the wrong enemy! DRAT!!


The Word is full of Scripture that tells me that God will handle my enemies and my job is to love. {sigh} For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." Hebrews 10:30





"In you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Psalm 25:2"

So - Here's the outline:

1) There is someone in my world that is causing me grief. He is the cause of pain and I want him gone.

2) This person is not the source of my pain, he is the vessel. The source is the Enemy.

3) God is my protector and my avenger. He will smite the source..I will pray for the vessel.

4) I will trust in my Lord to heal the pain, stop the source and put me on higher ground.

Back to Matthew 5:44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who insult you and persecute you.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

A Mother's Prayer

I pray for my children daily. I pray for them specifically and emphatically.

There is a conversation in the movie Evan Almighty where "God" is talking to the mom about answered prayer.

"Do you think that when you pray for patience, God zaps you with patience or does He provide opportunities for you to learn to be patient?" "When you pray for your family to be closer together, does He zap you with warm fuzzies, or does He provide opportunities for you to grow as a family?"



For many years now, I have been praying that God would bring my children, their spouses, and my grandkids closer to each other and closer to Him.

Not long after I began praying this way, my middle daughter and her husband went through a very trying time. A lot of pain, a lot of anger and a lot of doubt that their marriage would survive. They have not only survived, but are closer to each other - and God - than ever before! They're now expecting their 3rd child. I'm a happy Nana!

About 2 years ago, my oldest daughter and her husband lost their jobs. Thankfully, they had a good savings built up that helped them through for a while. Then things got tough. They have had no choice but to rely fully on God. Son-in-law is now back in school with a great job lined up. They have come through a very difficult time, humbled and closer than ever, knowing that their God is in control and loves them!

Last May, my youngest daughter left home under very harsh circumstances. Stood flat footed in the middle of the living room, told her dad, brothers & I that she didn't want to follow the rules any longer and was leaving. She took her backpack and headed down the road. Rocked my world! It has been an extremely strained 9 months. She called her dad this week. First time since she left. She didn't actually repent (which requires change) but she did say she hadn't been living right and she realizes she hurt a lot of people. The door has been opened!

As much as I love as my children, it's amazing to realize that my God loves them more! His gifts are lasting and permanent. As hard as it's been to watch my girls go through tough times, it's comforting to know that His plan is not to harm but to prosper..to give them a hope and a future!

God answers prayer!!

Now - I've been praying for quite a while that the boys would "grow in wisdom and in stature and find favor with God and man....

HOLD ON!!!!

Whose fault is it anyway?

"It's her fault we couldn't get on the computers."

"Why is it her fault?"

"We didn't have our cards, and she wouldn't let us log on."

"YOU didn't have your cards, so it's her fault?"

"We always got on before without our cards!"

Ok, let me get this straight....You somehow were able to get around the rules for a while, and then had to follow the rules, and now it's someone else's fault you didn't get what you wanted??

This seems to be a recurring theme around our home lately. I didn’t get my reading done because Dad said I had to rake leaves ...it’s his fault. I don’t have any socks because Mom didn’t do laundry...it’s her fault. I lost my temper because my brother wouldn’t give me the remote ...it’s his fault.

So, whose fault is it when things don’t go our way? Parents? Siblings? Spouse? God’s?? Things didn’t go my way and YOU’RE the reason! Hmmmph!

Well, let’s break this down and see if we can come up with a solution.

What is it you want? Is it reasonable? Is it possible? Is it right? You have to be specific with your desire. What is the end result you‘re looking for? If you want to get on the computers at the library, that’s perfectly acceptable. If you want to get on them without your card, that won’t do. The rule says you must have your card...not just know your number. So, you can have what you want, you just have to go about it the right way. No blame, no excuses, everyone’s happy.

What if what you want is up to someone else? I want the remote, but he has it. I want to play instead of read, but mom won’t let me. I need a job, but they won’t hire me.

Again, what is it that you want? Is it reasonable? Is it possible? Is it right? Do you want the remote or do you want to watch the show you’ve been waiting for? Is it reasonable to want that? Is his show over? Is there another way - possible compromise? How about the reading deal? Why not read first and then play. Everybody’s happy! And, as far as the job, if they won’t hire you - why not? Do you need more education? More experience? Do you need to start farther down the ladder? Don’t give up on what you want, just find a way to make it happen without blaming the world for not getting it!

These boys are quickly becoming young men. We don’t want them to bust into the world thinking it owes them a living! It’s easy to blame others for our shortcomings. It’s much harder to have patience, skill and reasoning ability. The result, however, is oh so worth it!

Let Him drive

I once heard a preacher say, "It's not so much that Peter believed in Christ, but that Jesus believed in Peter."

That spoke to my heart. Peter was a rash, impulsive, stubborn, prideful man that had the best of intentions, but not always the best actions or attitude. I could be named Peter.

Jesus had to rebuke and admonish Peter on more than one occasion. He had to remind this zealous Apostle that there was a Grand Plan and, although Peter was a part of it, he wasn't in charge of it! The Lord often reminds me of the same fact!

I know God has a plan for my life - and the lives of my children. I know it’s a good plan, not to harm but to prosper. I know only He can fully carry out the details in a perfect way. Why then, do I feel the need to be in control? Why do I worry & fret and try to make things go my way?

Right after Jesus told Peter that he was hindering the Will of God (Matthew 16:23), Jesus went on to say this:

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat, I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?” (The Message)

Man, I want to embrace that truth! To totally let Him lead. To completely surrender my will for His. To emphatically know that His will is best even if things don’t feel great at the time. Lord, may Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Fully, completely and immediately.

The same Peter that said, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”, also said, “Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.” (1Peter ch 4)

There was a lot of growth in Peter between the Gospels and Peter’s letters. Jesus knew Peter had it in him. Built His Church on that. Jesus believed in Peter!

“It’s not so much that Eyvonne believes in Christ, but that Jesus believes in Eyvonne!”

Time left?

I just got an email that asks "What would you do if you only had 30 days to live?" Then suggests, "Why don't you live that way now?"

Well here's the deal. My confession really. If I only had 30 days to live I would start smoking again. Why not? I wouldn't worry about my health or these extra 30 pounds I'm carrying around. Why should I? I wouldn't care if my house was clean or if we did Math, I would spend each day with my kids and my husband and they would put things on hold to be with me.

I think a more profound question for me would be, "What if you had 30 years to live?" Do I want to spend those years on an oxygen tank? Do I want to spend them with heart disease? Bad knees and back?

In 30 years, the Good Lord willing, I will be 74 years old. That's not so old in today's world. I don't want to wake up at 73 1/2 and wonder what happened to my life. I want to be happy, healthy, productive and close to God with many, many years of good memories with my kids and grandkids.

In order to wake up on that wonderful day and say, "All is well." I need to start now. I have taken care of my family for 28 years now, but I haven't done a good job of taking care of me. It somehow felt selfish to take care of me. Well I now realize that if I don't take care of me, I won't be around to take care of them.

My 44th birthday was the 6th of this month. I woke up and said, "All is not well." On March 12th I quit smoking. Because I tend to gain weight when I quit smoking, I have been really changing my lifestyle. Walking, drinking water, watching what I eat. My goal is 15 pounds this year. (All right, it's 30 but I think 15 is more realistic!!)

I am spending more time with the Lord. More time-quality time-with my husband and kids. Cleaning and decluttering my home so it is clean, healthy & a good example, but not to the point of neurosis. Trying to remember that "school" takes place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and rarely with textbooks.

Whether God gives me 30 days on this earth or 30 years, I've decided that I want to live it to the fullest. Starting with the next 30 minutes.

I'm So Thankful!

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Finishing up Summer

Spittin' seeds off the deck.

Talking about fishing.

Remembering Summer.

Preparing for Fall.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Maid Service

As I plunked the clean clothes basket down in the hall between the boys' rooms, I hollered, "Maid Service!". Among the bleeps and buzzes of the playstation, a voice exclaims, "Cool!"

Cool? What about "Thanks Mom" or "I'll get it"?

Cool??

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...Ecclesiastes 9:10a

Yes, that includes laundry. And dishes. And toilets. And vacuuming. Making my home clean and healthy - with all my might.

Equipped with the tools of my trade, I tackle the world I live in with a vengeance! Killing germs and fighting grime like a Superhero! Making sure my family has clean clothes, clean dishes, and a clean environment that they will dirty, mess and destroy so I can do it again!

A person can go to Salary.com and calculate how much money you would make at your job as a mom/homemaker, but I don't want to know. It's too depressing.

My benefit package far outweighs any salary I could make! Not the least of which is this:

Twenty minutes after I dropped off the laundry in the hall, the boy comes to me in the kitchen and hugs me tight. "Thanks for doing my laundry, mom".

Cool!

Doo, Doo, Doo

I woke up at 3:00 this morning singing CCR's "Looking Out My Back Door" It was odd because I haven't heard that song in years. I don't listen to 'oldies', there isn't a commercial with the tune, no one had been singing it lately. No reason for that song to be in my head.



I got up at 6:00 still singing that silly song! I looked up the lyrics (I don't remember it being that bazaar of a song!) and one line in particular jumped out at me. Bother me tomorrow, today I'll buy no sorrow. Hmmm....sounds a lot like "therefore, do not worry" in Matthew 6:25-31.



Coffee in hand, I sat down to check my email. I love reading Homeschooling Today and there was an article in my inbox. It was a fantastic piece on our "to do" list verses God's "to be" list. It reminded me to look for the important things in my day. The joy that play-doh brings far outweighs the mess! Taking time to enjoy my children is tantamount to worrying about the condition of the floors. I remembered that poem from long ago about how the dust will still be there years from now, but your children won't. Don't worry.



After email, I often stop by Sheryl's Place. On Friday's she hosts Faith-Lift Friday's and I always enjoy reading them. This morning was no different. She had a devotional from Crosswalk.com by Eva Marie Everson. A touching story reminding us that our Heavenly Father is concerned over every detail of our lives. If you have a minute, pop over and read the story. The point is, if it's important to us, it's important to Him. He's looking out for us, don't worry.



I'm sure by now, you are seeing a theme. Well, I didn't. Not at first. After my computer time, I grabbed another cup of coffee and headed "out my back door" to the deck. It's a new deck that we just built in May. A beautiful deck that we all worked on with love, sweat and yes a few tears! I was sitting in "my spot" looking out over the back yard.






It's a beautiful view I have. Actually, there are two views. One shows that the shop front isn't finished, the firepit isn't complete, the trailer full of scrap metal needs to be taken to the recyclers, the kids' jungle gym should be moved, the garden needs weeding, on and on.



The other view is my favorite. My husband is a very hard working man. He built the shop from the ground up and now has a place to do all the other hard working things he does! He has cleaned up the back property and a load of scrap is waiting to be taken in to pay him for his hard work! Our family loves to cook at the firepit! Family dinners last well into the evening with sweet fellowship and tons of fun. The fireflies complete perfect times! The basketball hoop, jungle gym, trampoline and bikes have all seen better days, but oh, the days they've had! Kids and grandkids playing, learning, growing, and doing it all together! The garden is lush and fruitful and beautiful and the weeds add to its fullness! What a blessing that piece of ground has been to our entire family -- friends and community too!



So, as summer marches forward, bringing bored cranky kids, extra yard and house work, garden stuff to deal with and a hot, tired mommy, I will have to remember this day. Don't worry - just look out my back door!

A Family of God

Two people meet and fall in love
and decide to make a life together.
They live and laugh and grow so close
and know it will be forever.

Their life is good as they live each day
with all that they are praying for.
But soon they know, deep in their hearts,
that there should be one more.

Their love and hopes and dreams endure
as they pray for a little one to share.
But month after month after month goes by
and the disappointment is too much to bear.

"Why Lord?", they ask.
"How can you be so unkind?"
"My children," gently answers the Lord.
"I have another plan in mind."

"From the minute you were formed I had plans for you,
your spouse, your kids, your being.”
"I have the perfect idea for you
for I am all-knowing, all-seeing."

In another town, not far away,
some children are not treated fair.
Their little lives have been torn apart
but our Heavenly Father is there.

With tender love and gentle care
He made two halves a whole.
The kids needed parents, the parents needed kids,
and each one fits the role.

This story is about our time together
as you may have already guessed.
Tho' things didn't go just as we planned,
our life is full and blessed.

Glory to God

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecc 3:11

"Who is like you among the gods, O LORD? Who is like you? You are glorious because of your holiness and awe-inspiring because of your splendor. You perform miracles. Exodus 15:11

The LORD rules as king! He is clothed with majesty. The LORD has clothed himself; he has armed himself with power. The world was set in place; it cannot be moved.

Your throne was set in place a long time ago. You are eternal.

The ocean rises, O LORD. The ocean rises with a roar. The ocean rises with its pounding waves.

The LORD above is mighty- mightier than the sound of raging water, mightier than the foaming waves of the sea.

Your written testimonies are completely reliable. O LORD, holiness is what makes your house beautiful for days without end.

Psalm 93:1-5

Thanx, Sheryl, for hosting Faith Lift Fridays.

Faith Lift Friday

I know I'm late on this, but wanted to get in on Sheryl's loop! :)

Thank you, Sheryl, for reminding us to look up!

This week I ran across this Scripture and it really spoke to me. Nothing deep or profound, just a way I want to spend my days.

"Enjoy yourselves in the presence of the Lord your God along with your sons, daughters, male and female slaves, the Levites who live in your cities, the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you. Enjoy yourselves at the place the Lord your God will choose for His name to live." Deuteronomy 16:11

Our First Place

Thanx Annie for hosting Time Travel Tuesday!

Our first home. This will be a telling post!

I was 16 when I was married and three months pregnant. I was so excited to be married with my own home. I moved from my childhood house to a small, one-bedroom home in town.

Dh was working as a bagger at a local grocery store and making decent money for 1981. He was also part of the Union, so our medical needs were met (praise God!!) I was going to school most mornings and piddling around my home the rest of the time.

Our home was furnished “Early Salvation Army” and our families were generous with their ‘extras’.
Our living room had a gold couch, a brown velvet-looking easy chair, shelves made from scrap wood and cinderblocks and tie-dyed curtains! The bathroom had brown rugs and a grey shower curtain. LOL

I was a terrible cook. Poor hubby suffered silently for many years eating pasty gravy and over-cooked meat. We ate out a lot.

We only lived in that little house for 5 months. We moved to a ‘bigger’ place before the baby was born. We have wished many times that we would have stayed there. The landlord wanted to sell it to us, but we were too young and ignorant to make that investment. He sold it for 38K and the man that bought it put a little into it and sold it for 98K 6 months later.

At any rate, our first home together was a wonderful springboard to our adventure together. The walls were block - drafty and dirty. The floors were bare, drafty and dirty. There was no air and the heater was a free standing propane ‘box’ that wasn’t all that safe. We loved that little place!

A place where dreams were born and planned. A place where we learned that life doesn’t hand you anything - you have to work for it and it’s worth it! A place where we started our life together and decided that we stay together and honor our vows NO MATTER WHAT!

And today, 26 ½ years later, we still think about that place.

Today is my dad's birthday

The cycle of a girl’s life:Daddy’s little girl. Rebelling against her father. Marrying someone just like dad. Daddy’s little girl (revisited).

Notice a theme here? A women’s life seems to be wrapped up in, woven through and contingent upon her dad. Boy, am I glad it was you!

You taught me about life. What to expect from it and what to give back to it. These are the things I learned from you:

*Stick with it. No matter what it is or what other people are telling you, stick to your convictions. Nobody else can dictate my convictions.

*Family first. #1 question, “Will it be good for my family?” There will be plenty of ‘distractions’ along the way. I need to stay focused on the important.

*Check the other side. There is more than one way to see a problem. You may have to look at it from a different angle. You may even have to turn it upside down!

*Keep your mouth shut. Advice is free, don’t make it cheap too! Let demand determine supply.

*Anger is a tool and must be managed properly. Sometimes it gets the better of you. You gotta keep doing the best you can and get a little better at it each time. I know I’m not perfect and that’s ok.

*Help others. There are people that I can help. Everything from sharing a drink with a neighbor to helping someone run their business. I need to see those opportunities and do what I can.

A women will also watch her dad and then, consciously or subconsciously, expect those attributes in her man. This is what I expect from my man:

*I expect him to provide for us. No matter what - no excuses.

*I expect him to protect me. Protect me from the world, other people, and yes, sometimes even myself!

*I expect him to always be here. I know there will be times - scary times - that things don’t look good, but when all the dust settles, I expect him to still be standing there.

*I expect him to encourage me to be my best.

*I expect him to see in me what I cannot see - and then to help me develop that.

*I expect him to be human. It’s ok to blow it, because I know he’ll continue to strive for the above!

Dad, all the things I have learned and all of my expectations are because you have lived those things before me. I just wanted to take this time to let you know that.

You didn’t have to be a dad to me, you chose to. I appreciate you more than you know.
I love you.

Happy Birthday!!