Startin' With Me

This is a few lines from a song sang by Jake Owen. I heard this song and thought "Wow, isn't that the truth".

If I had a dime
For half the things I did
That didn’t make no sense at all
I’d be living a little higher on the hog
If only I had known
That later on down the road
I’d look back and not like what I see
I’d've changed a lot of things
Startin’ with me

Prayer Request

My friend "JL" called me yesterday and told me that his wife's dad died. Please pray for my friend "BL" as she mourns the loss of her dad. Please pray for her whole family, her mom especially. It is hard to lose a dad, I know, but it's probably really hard to lose a husband.

As I opened my Bible this morning, I was led right to a passage I would like to share with you.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-3
A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.

Isn't it amazing how God can lead you to a passage that fits what you or someone else is going through?

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with all of God's blessings and his mercy.

A Quick Question

Can you stand up for yourself with a fellow Christian/church member? Can you tell them to to leave you alone? I had to ask my pastor this question because the more I think about a situation, the more upset I get.

Stanley doesn't say anything to this person, so I feel like this person takes advantage of that. I think if Stanley told this person to stop, they might realize that he isn't going to lay down and let this person walk all over him.

What do you think? Can you tell a fellow Christian to leave you alone? Can you tell them you don't appreciate the way they treat you? I'm really struggling here, so please respond.

Answered Prayer

I was supposed to work all this week and then Saturday was going to be my last day. I have been bombarded with homework, most of it due by Friday, and was stressing out about how I was going to be able to my homework while at work. I talked to God about it and guess what God did? Well the lady I worked for decided to go visit her daughter in Nashville for the rest of the week after her daughter invited her. So, I guess you could say that God took care of my problem for me.

Our God works in ways we could never comprehend, but I am very thankful for all the prayers he answers, and even for the ones he doesn't. I know there have been a couple of times if he had answered my prayer that I would be in a big mess. He knows the outcome, he knows what we need better than we do. We all need to learn to trust him more.

I'll keep praying about the other problem (below), and I am positive he will take care of that one too because he said it in the Bible ... Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

I hope you have a great, glorious, and blessed day full of God's grace!

Thank you Lord for your many blessings in this life. Your an amazing and wonderful God who loves us beyond our imaginations. You work for our good even when we don't understand. Thank you Lord, Thank you!

I Need Help - Laryngitis Would Be Great!

I found out this morning that the person who always causes Stanley trouble at work, managed to whine enough about some overtime that Stanley was getting (even though this person gets a lot of overtime), so now Stanley won't get that particular overtime anymore.

It's a shame that someone who makes more money than us and has three less mouths to feed, who works almost every Saturday and any time he can to get overtime, would concern himself with our business, and be so envious of a measly 30 minutes a day of overtime, that he would make sure Stanley lost it. That is kind of like taking food out of my kids mouths, which upsets me greatly.

This person steals Stanley's food, gives his food to other people, goes to the office and whines about everything Stanley does, and has even tried to get his job. Yeah folks, this is what Christians are starting to look like. No wonder the lost are running as far away as they can from Christianity, you can't tell the difference between Christians and the lost anymore. (And I'm talking about a lot of Christians, myself included).

I just keep telling myself that Psalm 37:8 says: Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. Because I feel a storm brewing in my mouth and if I see this person, Hurricane Cindy just might make landfall. I can't deal with this person anymore. I need to distance myself from this person as much as possible because Stanley won't say anything to him, so he thinks he can just keep walking all over him, and he needs to know he can't keep doing this and Stanley & I continue to ignore it.

Dear Lord, I thank you for everything that we have, and even for the things we don't have because you know more than we do what we need. Lord I need your guidance, your strength, your mercy, I need your wisdom...I ask that you please help me with the above situation. You say you won't give us more than we can handle, and I know you mean what you say. Lord please help me show Christ in me, help me to say only good things and not bad things. Please forgive me of many many failures. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Just Stuff

Well I just got on here for a few minutes before I start doing my homework and going over cheers for practice tonight. I have a ton of homework to do, and most of it is due by Friday. I have a full plate this week, so I'm not sure how often I will be able to blog, but I will try to everyday.

This is my last week of work, so hopefully things will get back to normal, and we will be able to implement a daily devotional into our busy schedules. Saying your going to do it and doing it are very different things. We always say we will, and we may even start it, but then something happens and we don't continue. I believe a family devotional is just what we need.

I have been having issues the past few weeks. I've decided to just let it go and let God deal with it all. I am going to focus on him and what I need to do and then I won't have to stress over the other things because I know he will take care of it.

I hope you have a great, glorious, and blessed day.

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day and the many blessings you give us each day. Lord I give you all my troubles and issues, I ask that you deal with them, do your will with them, and let me let go of them emotionally. I pray that you work on me, guide and direct me, make me more like Jesus, and let others see Jesus in me. All this I ask in Jesus' name, Amen!

Etc. Etc. Etc.

We have a new addition to the family, Brutus - a full blooded Chinese Pug who is the most loving little/fat thing you have ever seen. He was given to us by my sister's friend. He came with a big pet carrier, shampoo, brush, dog bowl, food mat, breath chews, puppy food (the only food he will eat),a leash, and two dog toys ... All free! The kids love him and he loves the kids. Now we are back to three dogs, two of them are in the house, one outside.

My first week of school was good, other than about a months worth of homework from 4 classes that I have to finish in a week - yeah I'll be busy for a while. The bad thing is that I work tonight and Saturday this week, and then Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday next week. I'm not going to have enough time to do my homework. I will just have to take it to work with me and do it when I can.

I was starting to feel better about a few things that was bothering me when my husband came home to tell me that someone was trying to cause him more trouble at work again. This is something that goes on regularly and I'm really getting tired of it. Mainly because this person will act like nothing happened in a day or two and expect us to do the same.

Just please pray for me, that I don't say or do something stupid. Pray that I will read more of my Bible so that good things will come out of me when I'm upset. There is a lesson here somewhere - pray I figure it out and learn from it.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

TeamKid

Last night the kids played outside, so I decided to help with snacks instead. I should have went outside (even though it was hot), because sometimes I let my mouth override my brain and say things I shouldn't ... Last night was no exception. The Lord showed me the error of my ways and hopefully I will learn to keep my mouth shut.

I don't know what is wrong with me lately, I just keep blurting things out that get on my nerves. It is good that I talk about my problems, but not exactly the way I have been doing it. I am just really sick of some things that have been going on and I guess it's my way of dealing with it. I need to learn to pray and talk to God about it and no one else.

We have a meeting on Sunday to figure out who is doing what in TeamKid this year. Last year we did two things, the warm up and the recreation. I'm not sure we (Stanley & I) want to do those again (mainly the warm up), but I would guess that if no one else chooses them, we will have to. I think we may have enough help this time that we should only have to do one of those. I hope so because we are also doing the bus ministry, and though I want us to do all that we can to help, I don't want to overload myself either because of school.

Well I hope you have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Books, Paper, & Homework - OH MY!

Yesterday was HOT, and I had to walk very FAR to get to my classes. The first day was crazy, there was a scheduling conflict with classrooms and so one of my classes was moved to another building, but it could be moved back by next week, who knows.

I like my professors, which is good. I am really going to have to hit the books this semester. No more putting homework and studying off until the day before it's due ... I will have to put in two hours every single day just in my Anatomy & Lab classes just to keep up, that's not counting my three online classes.

In one day I managed to get more homework then my kids do all week ... yes, that's right, I'll be lost in books and possibly in thought somewhere in my house today. If you don't see me by Sunday, please call a search party.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Back To School

Today is my first day of on campus classes. I have Anatomy & Physiology and then the lab that goes with Anatomy & Physiology. Prayer would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Have You Thought About It?

***UPDATE*** 8-21-07
This post came from something I have been dealing with and praying about that Satan tends to bring up when I'm feeling really good about my life and the changes I want to make. I thought if I posted it and prayed about it that it would go away.

This post isn't about any one person because I tend to let what people say to me or how they act toward me influence my decisions(which is wrong of ME)...Even people in my own home and family discourage me, but they don't realize it I am sure. Like I said, even I have said or done something that discouraged someone else.

If we all acted like God wanted us to, we would quit trying to be popular, quit acting like we are better than others, and start encouraging and supporting all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even lost people too, especially lost people.

Have you ever thought about how the way you act can impact someone else's life by discouraging them? In church, at home, wherever... how something you say or do can prevent someone else from doing something they thought about doing for someone else, or for Christ because you have discouraged them.

For instance, let's say you want to be more involved at your church, but there are a few people that don't think your qualified, or give you funny looks or say something sarcastic when you talk about it. Maybe they let power go to their heads and act like they are above you, that you work for them.

Maybe you want to be good friends with someone, but they act like they don't like you. They don't want to be around you, and it's noticeable.

You want to sing in the choir but someone laughed at you because they think you can't sing. Maybe you want to sing a solo but someone said something that changed your mind.

Maybe you thought of a great way to help people who desperately need it, and then were told no, not by words, but by someone ignoring the situation.

Maybe you have great ideas about things and want to share, but no one takes you seriously, so you chicken out.

None of us should care what others think about us, especially in times when we feel we are showing the love of Christ, or that God led us to do something. But, too many times I think someone else discourages us from doing something we feel strongly about with their words, their actions, and things they say.

I know this has happened to me many times, matter of fact it does all the time. Not necessarily the things listed, but from other things, by people who I can tell don't like me for what ever reason. I try so hard to be nice to them, try to befriend them, but I guess I'm not good enough for them, or whatever the case may be. They pretend to be my friend, or will be nice to my face, I'd rather them be ugly to me, rude to me, or ignore me then to pretend. Regardless, I let them discourage me from doing things that I know God has called me to do a couple of times. Something I shouldn't do, but I do.

I'm sure I have also said or done something that discouraged someone else. I pray I won't ever do it again! It doesn't feel very good.

Praise The Lord!

I can't even begin to explain Sunday at church, it was awesome! God spoke to me and my family so strongly on Sunday. We have decided to make some more changes in our life/family to help fight Satan and all his followers.

Putting God first in everything is our number one goal. We also want to serve in the church as much as we can. We are also going to start a family devotional every night. I am working until Sept 1st, but after that things are really going to change around my house.

I am so exited about what God is doing in my life and family, I pray your excited about what God is doing in your life and family too!

Disappointed

Apparently the Upward program won't let boys and girls play on football teams together, because it can cause self esteem issues if the girls run faster than the boys. I guess they didn't think about the self esteem of little girls who are told they can't play because of that reason.

My daughter is so upset that there isn't enough girls to play football. She was really looking forward to playing football. I guess she will have to be a cheerleader instead. I guess Upward isn't that different from regular football other than they use flags and have devotionals.

Regardless, I hope kids are saved, and even some moms and dads too. Have a great day!

Moving Upward

I am really excited about what God is going to do through Upward Football & Cheerleading at our church. It is a great outreach opportunity. I got the phone call last night that I am a cheerleading coach for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade girls. That's exciting! I had to ask off for Saturday at work so that I could attend the meeting and meet the girls I'll be coaching.

My oldest son is going to be a referree for football, my husband was going to try to help out, but he isn't big on sports so he doesn't know enough to be a coach or referee. He wants to help out in any way he can though. I'm sure with nearly 100 kids, there will be room for helpers :) I just pray that through the Upward program that God will be glorified and that others will see Christ in us and kids will be saved.

Sowing Generously

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Anger

Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 29:8 Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.
Proverbs 22:24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Anger can tear a family apart. It can eat at your insides. It can cause so many bad things.

I Think I Got My Answer

Family issues have forced me to give my notice. I can't be working when I am obviously needed at home. God, family, and school are much more important than money anyway. Some people just aren't meant to have money, and I guess we are some of those people. That's fine with me I suppose, I just needed the money to fix my teeth, get mine and Tanner's glasses, pay around $5000 in medical bills, buy all the medication I'm supposed to be taking but can't afford, buy clothes for the entire family, and have a few dollars put away for emergencies ... I guess just enough money to pay bills, buy groceries and put gas in the car will have to do. If groceries and gas prices continue to rise then we are really out of luck.

I know, it sounds like I'm complaining, and I guess I am. It's just so frustrating.

Decisions To Make

I have been working pretty much the whole summer so that we could buy the kids school clothes and hopefully pay some medical bills that we owe (and we owe a lot). I have bought some clothes but that's about it. My online classes start today and my on campus class starts on Tuesday. I'm not sure I can work and go to school too. If I do I will have to cut my hours down significantly, and then it won't be of much benefit.

We need the money, but I also need to focus on my schooling and putting the Lord first in my life. He is, after all, the reason I am able to go to school and do as well as I do. I guess I will pray about it and see what the Lord wants me to do.

Answered Prayers

Isn't it amazing how a Sunday morning at church can be God's way of answering your prayers? I have been dealing with issues this week. Issues like having so many responsibilities that I feel overwhelmed, to dealing with Satan coming at me through people I love or encounter in my life. Today our Sunday School teacher and our Pastor covered both of these issues. The answer, of course, is to look to God, not only in prayer, but by getting into His word as well. Something I have been neglecting to do. I pray all the time, prayer is easy, but sitting down to be still and quiet long enough to read my Bible isn't so easy.

God really spoke to me this morning, and I feel so blessed to have a Heavenly Father who forgives me for my many failures in this life. His mercy and love are an amazing, wonderful, and sometimes overwhelming miracle. I feel so useless sometimes as a child of God, that I'm not doing enough to bring others to Christ, or that I don't serve in every way I can. I try so hard to be a tool that He can use, but still I know I don't do enough.

I have a few people in my life that I would love to see come to Christ. I pray for them continually. I talk to them about God and Jesus, yet I haven't gotten anywhere. I am going to be a counselor at the Will Graham Celebration, and hopefully and prayerfully I can get them to come. I pray that God speaks to them so strongly that they can't deny Him anymore.

I pray that your day is or will be as big of a blessing as mine has been! God Bless You!

Trying To Understand

Have you ever wondered why people want to hurt other people? I'm not talking about unintentional mistakes, I'm talking about deliberate, purposeful actions. I have been trying to understand this for a long time, and I have actually been dealing with people like this in my own family. I think this is partly how Satan got a hold of me the past few weeks, because I have been talking with someone who regularly does mean things to people on purpose. This person isn't in my household, but they are apart of my family.

I can't take it anymore! I can't stand the division this person has caused in my family, the pain, the lies, the constant bickering with someone. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

Dear Lord I can only pray and hand this over to you, I can't deal with it anymore. Satan uses this person to do his dirty work, and it seems to be doing the trick. Only you can stop it. Only you can change it and make it better. I ask that you put your hand in this situation before relationships are ruined and more of my family is divided. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Feeling Out Of Touch

Things just seem to be working against me the past few weeks and I figured out why. I haven't been reading my Bible like I ought to and so I'm feeling out of touch with God. It's amazing how reading your Bible can make you feel better, but it does. I have been so busy working and getting things ready for school that I haven't made the time for reading my Bible or even walking for that matter. It has been too hot to walk, but I can read my Bible from the comfort of my living room.

Satan has really stepped in lately and it's my own fault. I don't have my sword ready for battle. I am posting this and then I am going to spend some time with God. I want to feel that fellowship and that closeness with Him.

I pray that you will do the same. Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Happy 4th Anniversary Stanley

These four years have been the best out of the 16 total we've been together. Together (and with God's help) we have changed our lives and ventured on the right path. I love being your wife, I love knowing that I have a soft place to fall, and loving arms to hold me. I feel safe with you. You are home to me, my comfort, my love, and I love you more than words can say and emotions can express. I love you more today than I did the first time I married you.

May there be more laughter, more hugs and kisses, more tears of joy, and more great times ahead. May we never take each other for granted, but spend each moment together as if it were our last. May we always put God first, may we always follow him, and may we always know that he is our strength and the force that holds us together. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen

A Little Bit Of Everything

Today is the last day for sleeping in and going to bed late. Tomorrow all of my kids will be back in school. Seems to me like school starts earlier and earlier every year and gets out later and later. I have enjoyed the time with them, but I am ready for things to return to a schedule. I do well with schedules, I like them, and they make me feel more comfortable.

I am excited about Upward Football & Cheer leading this year at church. My two youngest boys and my little girl will be involved, and I'm hoping I can redo my work schedule so that I can be a cheer leading coach. I just hope they don't expect me to do back flips and cartwheels. (LOL)

Wednesday, Stanley and I will be celebrating 4 years of marriage. If you read the side panel at all, you know that we have been married twice and even while divorced, we still lived together. July marked 16 years that we have been together (since our first date). I always think about our later anniversaries ... like 25 years, we would actually be together 37 years. It's interesting to say the least.

My Internet classes start on the 13th and I have to get my books on the 10. One of my books may have to be ordered. All of my classes are online this year but my A & P class and the lab that goes with it.

The AFA sent out an email not so long ago that said that Ford's sales went down over 9% due to the boycott they started. Well I was watching CNN the other day and they said that Chevy, Dodge, GM, and a few others, all had a 9-11% drop in sales this last quarter due to people buying hybrids to save on fuel costs. Funny how that was left out. I'm not a big AFA fan if you haven't noticed.

Well I think I have bored you enough for one day. Have a great, glorious, and blessed day.

College/School/Church Happenings

I changed my fall schedule at college. The Assistant Dean of Nursing advised me that trying to take English 102 while taking nursing classes and medical microbiology would be a full load. She told me that I should cancel my Phlebotomy class and put English 102 and Intro To Art in its place. This will also help me to be home around 4PM instead of 8PM, and I'm sure my husband and children are delighted with that.

The kids start back to school August 7th. I have enjoyed them but I am ready to have my peace and quiet back. My grocery bill will also go down and that's always a plus. They are excited and I am excited for them. I cannot believe that my youngest boys are going to be in middle school this year. My how time flies!

Tomorrow is our Homecoming at church and I cannot wait. The singing and the music put you in the proper worship mood, and then the preaching puts you back on the right path. I am fixing broccoli and cauliflower casserole and "Heavenly Eggs" (as my Sunday School teacher calls them) We have a big potluck meal afterwards, last years was awesome!

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

This That & The Other

We didn't go to church last night because Stanley was so tired and overheated from work. I wanted to go but he wanted me to stay home with him...he told me that key people in the church missed more church than we did. We don't miss church much, I can count on one hand how many times we've missed, but that's beside the point - I love church and hate to miss it, and my day started going downhill after not going.

Today I have a conference I MUST attend or I forfeit my spot in the nursing program. It is from 2:30-5:00PM. They will tell us about the schedule, uniforms, immunizations, grades, etc. I am so excited about January when I will be in the nursing program. Not many people get excited about their career, but I know that this is my true calling.

There is someone in my family (and I won't mention their name), that needs prayer, and lots of it. I won't go into specifics, but they are entangled in Satan's trap, and need to find their way back to God. I have invited them to church-they always have an excuse why they can't come. I have even quit talking to this person because I couldn't deal with the lies they spew-it doesn't work. This person is so vengeful, spiteful, and full of hate for their own family-It makes the rest of the family not want to be around or talk to them if they can keep from it because you never know what this person will do or say out of anger or revenge if you don't do or say what they want you to. Lord please help this person in my family-you know everything they need, you know how to fix it, I pray you do what needs to be done according to your will, In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

Praise God

My oldest son's 7 day blood sugar average is 184, and the 30 day average is under 300! Thank you God! This will definately help get his A1c down, but more importantly, get him in a safer level so that he doesn't do more harm to his body.

Thank you God for helping Austen care about his body more, and for helping us watch him more closely and be more supportive. Your an amazing God and I praise you for everything you do!