Venting and Honesty

 

 

 

 

I like honesty.

 

 

Well, honestly, I love it.

 

 

 

 

I have always said that the most important part of any relationship is for there to be honesty.

 

 

 

So, let's be honest.

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroad in life and you weren't sure the road to take?

 

 

Or, just like in real life, you come to a sign that read, "DEAD END" and you're forced to turn around and find another route.

 

 

 

For the past couple months, I have found myself having a little bit of my own personal pity party  because my life is on a rather crazy detour. I had no idea construction was needed on the road me and my family were traveling on... but either a bridge was fixing to go out, a sink hole suddenly engulfed half of the highway, or there was too many pot holes for safe travel. Or all three.

 

 

 

Regardless, God sent us down the detour road.

 

 

 

 

I'm bad with change. I like consistency. That's why most of the friends I have, I've had for years and years. I make new friends often, and I don't just "drop" friends when I get bored or my life is too busy for them. I like to wake up around 6:30, drink my coffee, talk to God, shower and get pumped up to wrangle three rug rats for the next 15 hours. I like it when Grant takes me to get ice cream, or my sis in law, Morgan... me and her are the sweet toothers of the bunch. Did I just make up a word? I like it... Anywho, I like to get the same ole same ole. I like cheese pizza. I like club sandwiches. When I first come home, I throw some socks and sweats on... I wander if that is from all those years of watching Mr. Rogers.... any other 80's kids with me?

 

 

 

Okay, you catch my drift?

 

 

 

I like doing the same thing. I like knowing what is about to happen.

 

 

 

It's been extremely difficult to sit in the driver's seat and to be driving down a road that seems as though it should be in the Mojave Desert. For those of you reading this out of the U.S., that is the driest desert in North America.

 

 

I don't mean my life right now is lifeless, I just feel I've been placed in a position where I am a bit more alone and secluded than I ever have had to be.

 

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I am glad I am not in control, I am glad I am clueless right now, even.

 

 

 

 

I haven't been able to say that until today, actually.

 

 

 

I often like to vent through writing and somehow the Lord always uses my own words to turn around and encourage myself. I was thinking today about how our society always wants to have one up on each other.

 

 

If you say you slept awful last night, your friend has a reason they slept worse.

 

If you are sick with the flu, someone has had it way worse.

 

If you got a good deal on some shoes, someone has a story of when they got some for even cheaper!

 

Your kid knows sign language? Well, someone tells you that theirs knows three languages.

 

You saw 12 people saved during your church service? Your buddy says they saw 15.

 

You shot a big buck... oh man, don't get me started! I was raised by a hunter and now I'm married to one! Ha! Okay, I seriously plan to shoot a bigger buck than Grant this year ;) I'm kidding babe... kind of.

 

You have a 3.8 GPA? Your best friend boast they always have at least a 4.0.

 

You have 200 friends on Facebook? Someone says they have 700.

 

Then, as mothers, they compare every little thing! How many teeth are in their child's head, when they learned to walk, how long they labored and if they breastfed or made their own organic baby food. We need to encourage each other instead of make each other feel like failures, women! I have felt pressure at times to make Raylea behave and act perfect around people because of their standards. I had an older and wiser friend tell me to only discipline my kids for what we say is wrong, not what they think is wrong. Parenting is to be joyful and happy and exciting, not a time that you try to out do others in how well your kid behaves or the fancy clothes they wear or how young they were when they said the whole alphabet. Teach them kids how to be like Jesus, MEEK and HOLY and LOVE. Pretty much the opposite of today's society.

 

 

 

I learned whenever we miscarried a baby, nearly four years ago, that even in tragedy, people still somehow want to have one up on you. A loss is a loss is a loss. Just like losing your 40 year old son, it would be just as awful to lose your two year old boy. Miscarriages just tend to be something people are uncomfortable to talk about, I guess because nobody sees the stomach getting larger and you likely don't know the gender yet, and sometimes you haven't had the chance to announce your pregnancy, but coming from a mother who wanted that baby for 13 months, let me tell you, I will always mention and want to talk about my child. August Shalom. See you soon, little one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is something I have learned, and it is this.

 

 

Oddly enough, it was on the front of card my husband gave me last week.

 

 

 

 

It said,

 

 

 

Sometimes what looks like falling apart is actually everything falling into place.

 

 

 

 

 

So, yes, you may have come to a dead end. Maybe you just ended a relationship that you truly felt was going to finally lead to marriage. Or maybe you took a wrong turn and made a mistake and God is placing you back on the solid rock so your tires can easily spin down the road... or, maybe you're like me, you are down this detour road and it doesn't make any sense. You tried and tried to figure out what the problem was up ahead, why you had to go around it, but for whatever reason you are at a place of simply TRUSTING and LEANING on Jesus. Boy, what better place is there to be. You are safe from all harm on this road. What do you have to fear when God Himself has placed you down this road. It may seem dark, it may be raining hard and those wipers are going as fast as they can go, but there is peace in your soul that wouldn't be there if you were on that comfortable path.

 

 

I am learning to trust Him. I am learning to really lean on Jesus.

 

 

 

I encourage you today, to stop worrying, stop crying about who left, stop crying about who hurt you, stop crying about what happened. You raise your head up high and hold them shoulders back and put your seatbelt on because this is going to be the ride of your life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great trip.

 

 

 

I know I will.

 

There's a lot of people, talkin bout people

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is this song I recently heard called "Rocks." It simply talks about how you don't need to be pointing out others' sins when we all have fallen short.

 

 

 

 

Now, I believe there is a time and place to go to someone in love and confront them about their sin.

 

 

 

 

I won't go into examples, but I am forever thankful for people coming to me in love and explaining why something is wrong or could potentially hurt my witness or mostly my walk with the Lord. As a young Christian eleven years ago, I stuck close to a lady named Tessa. She taught me things about God and about the dangers of keeping the smallest of sins in your life, that to this day, I have never forgot and it helped shape me into the Christian I am today. She never used the word "sanctification" but she taught me it with her own life. I rarely see her anymore, but any time I do, I make sure to give her a big hug around the neck...

 

 

 

 

Something that hurts worse than anything though, is people who will come to you in a "holier than thou" form and make you feel that you are the scum of the earth because of something you did, said or wore.

 

 

It doesn't say in the Bible, "thou shalt not wear short shorts, string bikinis and cleavage bearing shirts."

 

and for the guys... it doesn't say "thou shalt not wear muscle shirts or no shirt at the pool."

 

 

 

or, "don't drink alcohol."

 

 

"don't listen to secular music."

 

 

"don't get tattoos."

 

 

"don't pierce your nose."

 

 

"don't look at pornography."

 

 

"don't gossip about others."

 

 

well... it nearly says some of that..

 

 

"don't flip people off when they cut you off on the highway."

 

 

"don't yell at your wife."

 

 

"don't cuss."

 

 

"don't make others feel worthless."

 

"don't be lazy."

 

 

"don't this or don't that..."

 

 

"don't have anger problems."

 

 

 

 

You catching on?

 

 

We often point our finger at the person with the drinking problem or the girl who is sleeping around. I don't mean to sound harsh, but when a person gets saved, it doesn't take ages for their desires and their actions or even their looks to change. It says in the Bible that the old man will die and they will be a new man! With a new heart! Do you know the night my dad left a bar and went home he surrendered himself to God and he never went back into that lifestyle. It wasn't because he made up his mind and had a strong enough will. No... when someone likes to drink, they don't just "stop" overnight. My dad came in contact with the ALCOHOL Deliverer! The MARRIAGE Restorer and the CHAIN Breaker!

 

 

It took work, daily work and him laying down his pride to get to where he is today.

 

Can you imagine if right after he got saved if someone would have come to him and said "What? You had a drinking problem? What on earth are you doing going to a football game? Don't you know that alcohol is all around there? Are you just wanting to fail? What's wrong with you?"

 

 

I am making that little scenario up but stuff like that happens all the time with new Christians and "babes in Christ." They are on the milk, treat them kind and be patient and lead by example, not by condemning and judging.

 

 

 

I had lots of unsaved friends who I spent time with right when I got saved. Tessa and a lady named Anna explained to me that they will only bring me down. They didn't say "Hannah, you're not a Christian if you hang out with these people." They read scripture to me and used examples of themselves and others and made me see the reality of how friends can effect you positively or negatively.

 

 

 

 

I don't mean this hateful, and if you know me personally, you know me  enough to know that I am NOT a judgmental person... but if someone is drinking or sleeping around or cussing out their kids or lying... there's a pretty good chance they haven't ever been saved. I might ruffle some feathers saying that... but my goodness. Jesus ruffled some feathers enough that the crowd cried CRUCIFY.

So, instead of pointing your finger or judging, why don't you witness to the person?? Invite them over for dinner. Show them the love of Christ. WIN THEM TO THE LORD! That is EVERY Christians calling in life.. to lead others to the Lord. When is the last time you've led someone? Last week? Last month? Ten years ago?

 

 

 

Don't point at others in a CONDEMNING way. Instead, go to them in love and with another person if you feel led to. If it's a situation in your church, first ALWAYS go to the Pastor. Don't take matters into your own hands. There is authority at your church for a reason.

 

 

 

 

What the Bible does say, is that God is Holy. It says He is coming back for a Church that is without blemish or wrinkle. It says few will find their way to Heaven. It says many will find their way to destruction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read His WORD. That is how He will speak to you! God is the Judge and He is HOLY.

 

 

 

 

We can't be perfect, that is impossible. But, we can live a lifestyle that helps reflect the holiness and goodness of the Savior of the World by allowing the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. Each day is a new day and a new day to seek Him and find out what you can be doing to add to His Kingdom and to be the example to your wife, your kids, your parents, your friends... that you need to be, perhaps to help see them saved! YOUR life speaks volumes.

 

 

 

God is LOVE. That is true. But, He also is our Judge and we will all stand before Him one day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocks

(lyrics)

by: The Isaacs

 

 

There's a lot of people, talkin bout people. Lookin down on everybody actin like they're sitting on a steeple. Keeping on their own faults, locked up in a big vault. Forgetting that God don't need a combination to see it all.

 Raise your hand if you ain't ever done nothin wrong, that's what I thought.

Rocks are heavy. They hurt people you love, and it's so easy reachin' down and pickin' 'em up but I ain't gonna throw no stones at nobody, don't wanna get hit by a ricochet, ain't got no room for no rocks in my pockets, anyways.

He just sat there Drawin' on the ground beside her, she was caught red-handed and man they all couldn't wait to stone her, now I'm just paraphrasin', but Jesus said "wait a minute, step right up and be the first to throw If you ain't done some sinnin" one by one, they all dropped their stones and went home.

Rocks are heavy, they hurt people you love and it's so easy reachin' down and pickin' 'em up but I ain't gonna throw no stones at no body, don't wanna get hit by a ricochet, ain't got no room for no rocks in my pockets anyways.

Rock of ages, sweet sweet corner stone, was meant to be a place to hide and not somethin we throw. So I ain't gonna throw no stones at nobody, cause I need grace to make everyday, ain't got no room for no rocks in my pockets, got no room for no rocks in my pockets, got no room for no rocks in my pockets, anyways.

 



Change

 

 

 



 

I apologize for not posting something in a while.

 

 

Mine and my husband's life has taken a little bit of a turn recently. Or a detour... not really sure.

 

But, we are walking by faith. It's so good to know the Master of the wind.

 

 

And to know that He knows me.

 

 

 

A wise man once said,

 

 

God does not require us to understand His will, just to obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That is our problem often times. We think circumstances need to be easy, comfortable and reasonable.

 

 

I go back and read about men and women in the Bible, who were on a mission for the Lord.

 

 

 

Noah. I'm sure that sounded pretty crazy to build the first ever boat. A mighty large one, I might add.

 

As his mother, I'm sure Jochebed was a little nervous about placing her little baby in a basket and sending him down the Nile River.

 

Jonah. Esther. David. Mary. John.

 

 

JESUS...

 

 

 

They all had a mission.

 

 

 

I don't sit here, on my end of the internet line on my laptop and try to sound spiritual or that I know more than someone else. Nope. Not me.

 

 

But, what I am doing, along with my husband, we are praying and reading God's Word. I feel like that's how we are supposed to communicate with the Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

We pray to Him. He speaks back when we read His Holy Word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are praying for God's perfect will in your life and it doesn't line up with HIS word and HIS commandments then you might as well save your breath.

 

 

Example: "Lord, please show me if you want me work at the Casino and witness to those people at the slots."

 

 

 

"Lord, do I need to marry that guy? He isn't a Christian, but he comes to church some and he seems kind of interested. He's smart and has a nice car... Oh, Lord, I know we can make each other happy!"

 

 

 

"God, show me if I need to keep being friends with this person. They bring me down spiritually and they never respect my convictions. But, I just feel I can't let them go."

 

 

 

"God, should I buy these $100 shoes? I know I haven't given any tithes and offerings lately, but You understand... right?? I mean, these shoes are on sale!!!!"

 

 

 

 

Okay, those are pretty kindergarten.

 

 

 

But seriously, don't pray about something that God's own Word would not approve of.

 

 

 

Don't contradict His Word just because of your selfish desires!

 

 

 

 

Don't try to be a Pastor if you've only preached a couple times.

Just because you went to Bible College doesn't mean God called you to Pastor.

Perhaps he did call you while you were there, but getting some diplomas doesn't make you "called."

(Or anointed.)

 

 

 

Don't try to pressure your husband to be a Pastor or preach just because you have dreamt of being a minister's wife.

 

 

Don't try to be something you aren't called to be.

 

 

 

Can you imagine if I told Grant I was led to be a linebacker in the NFL?

 

 

I would be miserable all my life because I would not only have every bone likely broken in my body, but I would be trying to fill a void with a made up "will" just because it sounded good and the money was right. No, God will not use someone like that. I have learned in my 28 years that life is not about me. It's not even about Grant or my kids or my closest friends. It's about me doing whatever I can in life to ADD TO GOD'S KINGDOM.

 

 

I have three kids at home that I will pour in to night and day until they hit 18 or married and my example is what will show them what it is to live for God. If I holler at Grant, Raylea and Arrow will grow up to be domineering and stubborn women whose husbands will be miserable. If Grant mistreated me and didn't lead me spiritually, Jack would grow up to be Grant Jr.

 

 

Our kids will be a mirror of what they saw in the home.



So, don't make church priority and neither will they.


I am not perfect, but I am truly striving with everything in me to live a life before them that will be real and acceptable to God. I believe they all three will have early salvations because they see it REAL in our home. Grant isn't a different man out of the pulpit. We all just got back from a youth camp where there were 74 decisions for Christ. Sure, that makes me proud that Grant preached a total of 6 times and led devotions once and twice a day, but more than that, it was seeing him read the Bible and go off alone to pray.

 

 

 

 

What are YOU doing to add to God's Kingdom?

 

 

Change is not always easy. Trust me. I get that. I'm there.

 

 

But, change is inevitable in all our lives and we have to come to a place where we hand the reigns over to God. Let Him in the driver's seat. Stop being that bossy kid telling the parent what you're going to do. Listen to the Lord and just say "okay," for once.

 

 

No, you might not be up on stage. You might not make as much money. You might even have to move to a different country. You may have to break up with that boy. Or stop trying to be friends with that person.



Perhaps you need to just start being a good wife. A good dad. A godly Christian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know I rambled a bit. My older two are watching Bambi and Arrow is napping while Grant is mowing our lawn. So, I had a silent moment.

 

 

Thanks for sharing it with me :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Face your mountain by Jason Bruns

Joshua 17:14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? 

And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. 

-----

The children of Joseph found themselves in an interesting dilemma. They had been blessed so abundantly that their lot of the promise land was too little for their needs. 

Sometimes God gives us so much that we are not able to live as we once did. Sometimes he blesses us with material things that allow us to give to other people; we soon learn that if we give to others then it will be impossible to give away enough to be wanting. In turn our giving requires more getting which requires more managing.At times God blesses his people with church family enough that the place they once occupied no longer is large enough for their physical needs- oh glory to God! We sometimes need more parking, more restrooms, more air conditioning, more sound, more Sunday school rooms, more teachers, more preachers! Oh thank you Jesus, we have more need for more land! Sometimes God blesses us with plenty of building and not enough people, plenty of people but not enough money. Sometimes it seems like we are just to restricted on time to do what we want to do for God. 

Soon the questions come; how come I received this lot? How am I going to be sustained on this lot alone? How come I'm not granted more space, more time, more money, more rest?

How are we going to expand our time, how are we going to manage our resources? How are we going to fulfill the needs of our family, and our church family? How can we meet our needs and the needs of those close to us? Are we ever going to be comfortable? 

Joshua had the answer for the children of Joseph. "Get up to the wood country and cut down the trees in the land where the giants are." Now I have to think that the tribe of Joseph didn't particularly like the answer they received. I'm certain they would have rather had Joseph tell them "alright" I'm going to give you flat land in the bottom of the land of Canaan, or perhaps they hoped he would tell them-go ahead and tell me the land you desire and I'll grant it to you. Unfortunately that is not the answer that the tribe of Joseph received. 

Sometimes the answer that God gives us is the difficult answer. The sort of answer that takes work, the sort of answer that gets our hands dirty, the sort of answer that takes great faith!

If God always gave us what we wanted or gave us what we felt like we needed, then the kingdom of God would be full of faithless juveniles! Mature faith is the kind of faith we need. The kind of faith that allows us to look at the mountain, and to face the giants and say "my God is able" My God can rescue me from the storm but he can also help me to endure the storm. He is able to deliver me from the fire and he is able to take me through the fire! My God is able to work through me as well as for me.

In the kingdom of God we must be willing to accept our lot; and still be willing to ask for our necessities, but work for our inheritance!

Why don't we heed to the voice of Joshua, pray a little more, give a little more, work a little more, and most of all, have faith more-in the Kingdom of God! By the way, look what Jesus did for us, he let them strap an old rugged tree his back, and drive nails in his hands, then he willingly died for you and I.

Lord Jesus give us the grace to have great faith, even when we do not receive the easy answer.

JAB. Plane ride home from Spring Jubilee 5/18/17

Having a form of godliness

 

 

 

My heart is pounding.

 

 

It has always amazed me how it does that when I know I am about to write or type something that God has laid on my heart.

 

 

 

I guess it's a mixture of excitement with a little bit of nervousness to have the responsibility to say something in words the right way for people from all different cultures and backgrounds to understand.

 

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

2 Timothy 3:1-7

 

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone these days wants to look out for Number 1. We have social media to thank for the explosion of "selfies."

 

 

What happened to people being selfless?

 

 

People work endless hours so they can have endless things. Or they chose to not work endless hours and ask the government for every form of hand out so they can still "afford" to go out to eat and take a family vacation every few months. We are all entitled to something! That is what our culture says!

 

 

 

Boasting and being prideful tend to go hand in hand.

 

Someone new sings at church. You're jealous because they clearly have more "talent" than you.

 

Or maybe they don't have the talent but they are anointed- which truly breaks the yoke.

 

 

You fill your Pinterest board and thoughts with new ideas on how to make your home the most cozy, the most updated, the most unique....

 

 

all the while, you're spending money on stuff that will burn one day yet you don't take 30 seconds to share Christ with the cashier at Hobby Lobby because your mind is only set on one thing. You and your new prized possession.

 

 

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, it says in Pslams! If you're redeemed, you have something to be telling others about on a DAILY basis.

 

 

 

Once you get your house, yard and porch looking perfect, you take photos and share them with your friends or followers.

 

 

 

 

People DENY God. Blasphemy. Here soon I am going to write a post directly to all those out there who call themselves atheists.

 

 

 

I have had my share of times my children have disobeyed me, and I've only been a parent for a mere 5 and a half years. But, there is correction and love to explain how God would want them to behave. Be the parent God wants you to be and maybe your kid will obey better. The closer I draw to the Lord, the closer I am able to draw to my children.

 

 

 

I've been in several situations where I felt I was unappreciated and honestly, it all comes down to others being unthankful. Whether you've given your time, your energy, your money, you name it, if someone is unthankful, that is THEIR problem.

 

 

 

Unholy... boy, this is one I could write for days on, after kneeling down and begging God to forgive ME.

 

 

Stop looking down your nose at others. Just like the old preacher said, "you gotta catch the fish before you try cleaning them up." Give people time and space and allow GOD to work in them. It isn't your job to press all your convictions down others' throats. I have STRONG convictions on things and I can back up every one of them with scripture. For those who WANT to learn more about God and how to please Him, they can read what I write. You are choosing to read this. I'm not forcing you.

 

 

 

Mothers aborting their child. Doesn't get more "without natural affection" than that.

 

 

 

 

Ever had someone give you their word they would do something and it not happen? That's because rarely this day and time do many folks keep their word.

 

Example...

 

'Til death do us part...

 

not... 'til you make me mad and I don't think you're attractive anymore do us part...

 

 

Some people can't stand GOOD. Some? I'm sorry, MOST. People love their evil ways and their sin. That is why headlines are ate up with horrific murders and sick perverts.

 

 

 

Heady.... high minded... I think of someone who thinks ONLY THEY KNOW THE ANSWER.

 

 

I have always tried to be very transparent. When someone asks me for advice, I will often say I do not know the answer but that I will pray and read God's word and seek it out.

 

 

Be open to being corrected. Be open to being wrong. Be open to changing.

 

God can only work in a person like that.

 

 

 

 

People love pleasure...

 

 

having nice stuff.

going to nice places.

driving nice cars.

wearing nice clothes.

eating nice food.

attending a nice church.

having a nice phone.

 

 

 

They are all pleasures and people love them MORE than they love God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the one that is probably the most obvious in the church today...

 

 

having a FORM of godliness, but denying the POWER!

 

 

You think you have everyone fooled. You think your little small sins are not a big deal. Even God surely couldn't be concerned with them with all the worse sins out there!

 

 

 

 

 

Listen, you are denying the power of God when you say you have been delivered from pornography, yet you occasionally look at dirty pictures here and there.

 

"But they just pop up on my phone without me knowing! It's not fault! I only look a few seconds!"

 

 

Well, buddy, then get rid of your phone. Remember the verse about cutting stuff off if it's holding you back? Ya, I'm pretty sure God IS concerned about you looking at half naked women whether you are single, married or in between. Same goes to you, lady.

 

 

 

Don't come to church in a tight pencil skirt for God and everyone else to see every curve on your back side while praise and worship is going on. The way you dress reflects what is on the inside of your heart. So, if you want to make men lust and teenage boys have a hard time focusing on God, then go ahead, dress like Kim Kardashian.

 

 

 

While we are talking about celebrities, quit idolizing them! If you want to idolize someone, it should be JESUS CHRIST. Study the way he talked, walked, dressed, loved...

 

 

it'll change your life!

 

 

 

 

FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.

 

To me, that means anyone who is THIS WAY, turn away from them! They will HARM and HURT you. They think they know what it is to be a Christian, but they have no idea.

 

 

 

 

 

These sins and PEOPLE sneak into houses....

 

 

through your PHONE

through your TV

through your PASTOR

through your FRIENDS

through your JOB

through your KIDS

through YOU!

 

 

 

 

 

I have lots of books. Maybe 30-40 Christian books sitting near me right now. A while back God said in my spirit, Hannah...

 

I GAVE YOU THE BEST BOOK.

 

READ THAT MORE.

 

 

So, I have been.

 

 

You can learn and learn and learn about God but you'll never come to the knowledge of the TRUTH until you SEE your SINS and chose to TURN from them.

 

 

No, you won't be perfect but SIN won't be part of WHO you are.

 

 

Your sensitivity to sin will show how much you love the Lord.

 

 

A preacher said recently, "when is the last time you wept over sin in your life?"

 

 

 

 

I want to end this post with that soul wrenching question....

 

 

 

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU WEPT OVER SIN IN YOUR LIFE?

 

 

 

Think about it... talk to God about it... I will do the same.



My Words

 Palm Sunday, our church washes feet.

I loved washing Raylea's this year. She better understood the meaning and act of it.

 

Raylea loving on Gracie after she washed her feet.

It was Aunt Betty's first foot washing service to ever miss she said, so we took the kids by afterwards and let them wash her feet. The only pan I could find was this little one. She said, "I cook my beans in that." HAHAHA.

This post has zero to do with foot washing. I just thought some would enjoy the photos.









_______________________________________________________



 

Words have a lasting effect.

 

I have a saying next to our kitchen table, which is where we do our homeschooling, which says...

 

"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

 

 

That is true is MOST situations.

 

 

But, I can remember a handful of one liners throughout my life that I have truly never been able to erase from my memory, as hard as I have tried.

 

Whether I said it, or was on the receiving end...

 

Remember, that saying says, "THEY MAY..."

 

Not, "They will."

 

 

 

 

 

Depending on the individual's soul, I believe that determines whether or not their death will be a tragedy or a triumph.

 

 

 

Death comes in many forms.

 

 

I read this past week about a little four year old boy who drowned in a neighbor's pool after wandering away from home.

 

 

 

Two mornings ago, an NFL star ended his own life in his jail cell after being sentenced to life without parole.

 

 

 

A crazy mad man shot and killed an elderly man on Easter Sunday and posted it to his Facebook page. He later turned the gun on himself while being chased by police.

 

 

 

 

My Grandpa died of cancer 10 years ago, this August. He was my good buddy.

 

 

 

 

Last year, I am pretty sure it was in April, a man who was a spiritual hero of mine, was diagnosed with cancer and he passed away three short months later.

 

 

On Thanksgiving this past year, Uncle Darrel came out and met our new baby, Arrow. Four days later he died from heart complications.

 

It was her first Thanksgiving, and his last.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death used to scare me.

 

 

As I shared in a recent post, I dealt with depression for 6 months and was delivered from it in January of this year.

 

 

During that time, death frightened me.

 

 

But, oddly enough, I allowed the devil to lure me into entertaining the thought that if I were dead, this world would be a better place.

 

 

Truly. I felt that some days.

 

 

And that takes me pushing down a lot of pride to even be able to type that.

 

 

That I felt that low. Worthless. Unloved. Alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tend to struggle with words...

 which may shock you.

 

 

I feel much more comfortable writing to someone about how I feel, whether it's good, bad or ugly, on paper. I even wrote the devil a note once! No lie! I gave it to my mother in law, which that actually cracks me up to type, because those of you who don't know me are probably thinking, "What?? Your mother in law is the devil?? I thought that was MINE!!"

 

 

Ha. Well, far from that.

 

 

Rhonda Lea Ledbetter is one of the BEST friends I have. My mom said to me years ago, "you and her are like Naomi and Ruth!" And that is exactly what we call each other.

 

 

So, I gave that letter to satan to her because I wanted her to keep it safe incase I needed reminded of what I told him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've also made the mistake once by writing/texting someone how I felt about a certain situation and I learned that there are some things left better to be spoken about in person.

 

 

Just another "life lesson" we all should remember.

 

 

 

 

As a little girl I remember writing my prayers to God down on a paper and walking out into the field back behind our house and tossing it up in the air, thinking it would just magically fly high into the clouds and then go out of sight, kind of like a movie scene.

 

Nope. My prayer flopped down on the ground in front of me that day. I remember thinking "Oh, well, He will still get it."

 

 

 

During the time I was depressed, I had a lot of days I felt my prayers were just flopping down and splattering out on the floor, so to speak.

 

 

I wasn't thinking "He will still get it, " on those days...

 

 

 

 

 

 

My husband has received so many cards and letters and texts from me since we first met. I could compile them and make a book!

 

 

I would likely leave out the ones where I was being slightly hormonal and complaining about the trash not being taken out or his dirty socks at the foot of the bed... or something else that wasn't going to matter in 24 hours.

 

Ya, if you're a wife, you've been there too.

 

 

 

 

I wrote my vows to him that were read on our wedding day.

Something that I remind him of often that was in them is that I would fight a tiger for him.

And I mean it.

 

 

I would lose.. but I would fight.

 

 

 

 

 

I write a journal to all my kids, including August.

 

I also keep one for Grant, and I started it back in May 2008. It's full of lots of goodies.

 

 

 

I enjoy writing to people and I often encourage others to write down how they're feeling by getting them a journal or notebook of some sort.

 

 

I said all of that to say- I have used my "gift" for words 99% of the time for good. For God.

 

 

I don't have a ton of extra time to sit around and type on a keyboard like I am right now. Truth be told, I have all three of my kids parked in front the TV watching a kids movie on Netflix. That'll distract them for maybe 12.5 minutes... so, as you can imagine, I'm typing as fast as these short little fingers can go.

 

 

I DO find time though because I know it is helping someone, SOMEHOW... somewhere.

 

 

For one, I like to check my stats a few days after I posted a new blog post and I can see several (usually around 5 or 6) countries who will have people from there who read that particular post. After the US, usually Russia and France and Germany top the list. Right this moment, someone from France is reading...

 

So, BONJOUR to you!!!

 

 

Good thing I am typing that, not saying it, because with my slight hick accent mixed with French... well, that just isn't very cute.

 

 

 

I write because of YOU.

 

 

You, person.

 

 

You, man.

 

 

You, woman.

 

 

You, lonely wife.

 

 

You, abusive husband.

 

 

You, depressed teenager.

 

 

You, getting a divorce.

 

 

You, dying of cancer.

 

 

You, sinner.

 

 

You, Christian.

 

 

 

 

I WRITE FOR YOU.

 

 

 

I get pretty much zero pats on the back for this. No pay check. I opted out of getting ads on my blog, even though with the amount of traffic I get, I would make a little money at it, but I never want money to be connected to the reason I am giving of myself. Not that it's wrong to have ads on your blog... but I personally don't want them.

 

 

 

I genuinely write because in the back of my mind, I imagine some person sitting across the world at their computer or on their smartphone, and somehow they stumble across this page.

 

 

They were feeling helpless and hopeless. But, maybe after reading a post I wrote a year ago, they decide to live another day. They realize the devil is a liar. They read about how God delivered me from not only depression this year, but better than that, delivered me from hell when I accepted Him as my Savior as a 17 year old girl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not perfect. I am saved. I try every day to please the Lord.

 

 

In my actions. In my attire. In my attitude. In my relationships. In my roles.

 

 

 

 

 

But, evil is real. The devil is mad. He wants you.

 

 

 

 

BUT. BUT. BUT.

 

 

 

 

GOD is greater than evil. GOD is greater than the devil. And GOD is greater than any issue you're facing today.

 

 

 

I've had a trying month. That's all I will say.

But, God has proven He's faithful once again.

 

Just me and God. That's all that matters.

 

 

 

 

 

The devil is a liar. He has proved that to me once again as well.

 

 

 

But, through my weakness, GOD HAS BEEN STRONG.

 

 

Through any heartache, GOD HAS BEEN THERE.

 

 

Through any confusion, GOD HAS BEEN MY ROCK.

 

 

Through the storms, HE HAS BEEN MY LIGHT HOUSE.

 

 

Through the night, HE COMFORTS ME.

 

 

 

When no spouse, no child, no parent, no best friend, when nobody can give you peace...

 

TRUST JESUS.

 

 

TRY HIM TODAY.

 

 

You were MADE to desire HIM. He desires and longs for you.

 

 

But, we all have that thing called a FREE WILL.

 

 

I will write more on that later.

 

 

 

 

 

I challenge you to find your bible right now.

Even if it's just by using your phone.

 

 

Go read a chapter out of Romans.

 

 

Any of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And for now....

 

 

 

Adios.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Whoever you are. :)

 



Lessons Learned

 

 

 

I remember as a little kid, sitting there at a (in my mind at least) very long wooden table that was up against a wall. That is where my mom would have me sit and work on some school stuff at home. I'm guessing I was around 5. But I remember her teaching me my left and right as I sat there, at the long skinny desk.

 

 

I remember being out and getting so confused of which way was left, or which way was right. I would think to myself, "if I was just sitting at that desk."

 

 

I would get back to it later and remember, oh yes, that is left and that is right...

 

 

 

Now, obviously I now know my left and right without having to sit at that table, but it was a lesson I had to learn.

 

 

Simple, but still, a lesson indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

Since I stay home with my kids, I have the opportunity to teach them lessons all day long.

 

 

God called me to homeschool a year and a half ago, so, the lessons shall continue for a good 18 more years, or until Arrow graduates.

 

 

I remember wanting to be a wife, a mommy and a teacher as a kid.

 

 

I get to be all three, every single day.

 

 

 

 

 

Although I am teaching, I am guiding, I am training and disciplining...

 

 

my kids are teaching me too.

 

 

 

They are teaching me lessons, as I teach them.

 

 

 

 

Today, Jack got into trouble. After I disciplined him, he had to go tell his big sister he was sorry. After he said, "I'm sorry, sissy," he leaned in for a big hug, to her arms which were already out waiting for him as she stood in her room. He then said, "pick me up," to her. She smiled and picked him up and they went over by her window and started playing happily.

 

 

 

 

I thought, right there, they both taught me a lesson. Jack taught me to be quick to say you're sorry and mean it. Raylea taught me to be quick to accept the apology and move on...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, these kids are teaching me a new lesson each minute I feel like, but I want to stay on this one.

 

 

 

 

How often do you do something wrong, and mess up?

 

Some things are premeditated, some are basically "out of the blue" honest mistakes, and then some are practiced day in, and day out.

 

 

Maybe you lashed out at your spouse because you disagreed with how much money they spent that week.

 

You got caught up in gossiping about someone who you consider a close friend.

 

You let something get under your skin until you finally thought you would resolve it, once and for all- but you ended up handling it in a very ungodly manner.

 

You let jealousy creep into a friendship, which led to it ultimately ending, all because you couldn't be happy for someone else's joys.

 

Someone cut you off in traffic and you said something you hadn't said in years... or maybe you just thought it.

 

You had premarital sex. Several times. With several people.

 

You lied on your taxes this year.

 

You ignored your child's plea for help and for attention, and that is what led them to start cutting their body, taking drugs and sleeping around.

 

You got too caught up in work and started staying after hours, then you found yourself emotionally and then physically involved with someone who appeared to be better than who you have waiting on you at home.

 

You gambled once, then twice, now you're hooked and in debt and your marriage is about to end, all because of the addiction you have to money, whether you're winning or losing it.

 

You quit going to church. Maybe it was because you felt you weren't handled the right way there, or maybe because you felt you got nothing out of it, or maybe it's because you straight up don't care about being around Christians and growing spiritually and worshipping God. Likely, it's the last...

 

 

(some of you or people I know of, have health issues and can't make it to church very often, but I have seen some pretty sick people, people dying of cancer and others bound to a wheel chair- get to church. As the saying goes... "going to church doesn't make you a Christian, but if you're a Christian, you'll want to go to church!")

 

 

You look at porn.

 

You lie to your parents.

 

You lie to yourself.

 

You are a man, and you don't lead your family spiritually.

 

You're a woman, and you won't let the man lead!

 

 

 

 

 

I don't list all of these instances to make you feel bad or guilty.. that isn't my job! I just want you to be honest with yourself and think...




Have I allowed myself to get to a place where I can't learn a lesson?





Ask yourself that a few times... quietly and honestly as you read the words slowly off of your computer, tablet or phone.



God is constantly wanting to teach us. His Spirit is there to guide us.


But, what if you are being un-teachable?


What if you are justifying your sin so much that you can't even admit to yourself,

by yourself,

alone,

that you're wrong?



and that you need to be changed...




The devil is sneaky. He even used scripture to sound good and he just twisted it.

(That proves that twisting the truth is a lie! So, don't do that.)


He wants you to slowly fall away. That way, it is not so obvious to the victim.



Like the frog being boiled... the water starts out cold, but slowly turns warm, then before the frog knows it, he's boiling and didn't realize it because it was a slow fade to his death.



The devil is sneaky and somewhat smart people, we have to admit that.

He wants to introduce sin to you slowly... just like changing the temperature in the pot for the frog.





BUT, God is the Truth. He is the WINNER. He is the Holy One Who you should be trusting in.




Tell God you're sorry today.



He is standing there, like Raylea was to Jack earlier, with arms wide open before you can even spit out "I am sorry."


Stop trying to fix it on your own.


He BECAME SIN on the Cross. YOUR SIN.



Think about that.



Now let's all go pray!



GOD IS SO, SO GOOD.



Make Him your best friend today, if you haven't already.













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