Calgon? Take me away.....

It's been one of those days today. I have 2 sick kiddies, 1 with a 104 temp. and the other with a headache and tummy ache. My oldest arrow got braces on Monday and she's been hurting all week. WOW! Where's the Calgon? Someone pass me some, I need a long hot bath, ALONE. :)

Now, don't misunderstand me. I LOVE moments like this when my kids are sick and they want me to hold them all day, but it is also physically tiring. I just feel drained today. So I had a few moments and went on Facebook. While checking out a few friends and their new status updates, I ran across one that got my attention. A friend wrote this....

God's promise from Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Believe this and be encouraged today! May the Lord bless you with His Presence and Power today!

Now, there's my Calgon! I don't need any hot bath, I don't need any rescuing from my children, I don't need to escape from it all.....I only need to look upon Christ. He is my Rock, my Savior, and in Him I will find rest....in Him I will find the strength to go another day. So, today I will fear not, I will look to Christ to strengthen me and uphold me.....whom will you look to? Calgon or Christ?

Perseverance

Finally, she worked and worked for 2 days and finally got her horse puzzle to go together. The instructions are pretty vague and she thought she would need the help of her daddy. After much perseverance she conquered. Isn't it great when we persevere and see the fruits of our labor. Just as our children must persevere to learn new things, we as parents must persevere through the rough times. Whether it be a trying time with a new baby, a new puppy, a crying 2 year old, a stubborn 10 year old or a trying teenagers....we must persevere through it.



Isn't it wonderful to know that through it all, GOD is with us. He is our strength through the storm. He is our Rock and salvation. It does my heart good to know that even though I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, GOD can and does, He knows what is best for me and He knows how it all will end. Keep praying!! Persevere, you can do it, with God leading the way.

"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be raised, and I am saved from my enemies." 2 Samuel 22:2-4

Praise......

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6

I had the honor of spending the afternoon and evening with My Blessed Mommy!!! She took me to a women's conference in a town near by. It was wonderful! We attended one of the small sessions about Intimacy With God and I was richly blessed. After dinner we attended the evening session which was lead by Babbie Mason!!! WOW!! I don't know that I have the words to describe how beautiful her spirit is and how the love of Christ glows in her. Her voice is beautiful, a gift from God and then a spirit to go with it. I was just in awe of her many talents. Now I could go on and on about Babbie Mason and the fabulous evening there, but there is something else that overshadows all those wonderful things.

The time I spent with my mom, just the 2 of us, my mom and me, me and my mom. Let me tell you a little about my mom, she is Beautiful on the outside and her inside is just as gorgeous. She is caring for friends and family, hard working in all she does whether work or personal, loyal to the end, sweet as a flower, friendly and southern as can be, funny, loved by all who know her, and she can sing to boot! She has come so far in 10 years.....wow....did I say 10 years? 10 years ago yesterday her father died, a month later she found her husband having an affair after 28 years of marriage. Long story short, my parents are now divorced, but my mom is Happily remarried 5 years now to a wonderful, God fearing man, whom I am honored to call my Dad. My mom wasn't walking with the Lord during that time, BUT God had a plan, He had been working on my mom for sometime. I had been praying for my mom, as I had been walking with the Lord and I wanted her to feel and have the same Joy of Eternal Life with Christ. I remember her phone call like it was yesterday, telling me she was going to make it right, right with the Lord.....what a glorious night!!! She asked me to pray with her, now I don't pray in front of other people, but God gave me the strength and the words to say. I went to my bedroom to get on my knees and pray with her. It was a glorious time....and I am grateful for the Lord sharing that moment with me.

Last night was like that moment brought back. Sharing in God's goodness. Praising Our Lord together, hand in hand. Praying for each other. Praising God for one another and Praising God for who He is, what He has done, what He will do!!!! I can't tell you how precious those moments are to me...they are etched in my heart forever! So to my Mom, thank you for inviting me, thank you for taking me, thank you for loving me, and thank you for sharing in our Lord with me. :) I will cherish last night for years to come and I pray that we make more memories like that together. I Love You Mom!!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;I will sing praises to you among the nations. Psalm 57:9

Let there be peace.........

Today I woke up sick. My head hurts, throat hurts, back hurts, nose is stuffy and I'm very tired. How can you go to be feeling fine, just tired and wake up like this? I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Is this emotional exhaustion? Is it a cold? I truly don't know. I do know that I am going to listen to my body and rest today.

I had a rough day yesterday. I have been spending much of my time in prayer and searching God's word lately, looking for truths. Trying to define myself, who does God want me to be, where does He want me to go? I haven't had alot of free time this past week or this weekend. Yesterday my sweet husband and I spent time talking about a relationship in my life that needs some attention and work. I took his advice and tried reaching out, but didn't get very far. I didn't get anywhere and I feel like I am back at square one. I keep praying for peace, but don't feel it and I don't know what to do. As I was talking to my husband this song came to me...."Let There Be Peace On Earth" you should notice it playing in the background...

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me

I believe in a sovereign God and I know that I didn't just think up this song. I know He wants me to make peace through Him with this relationship. Where do I start? How do I start? I feel like I am drowning and going in circles. I don't even know where this post is going...it feels so random like my thoughts. I guess sometimes you just need to vent and get things out there. Thanks for letting me purge on you and if you think about me through the day, could you lift me up in prayer? Thanks! Have a Blessed Day Y'all!

Busy...Busy

Busy is the perfect way to describe our past week. We have been running here and there, visiting my grandmother, basketball and schooling at the same time. I am happy to report that my grandmother had back surgery and is home recovering now. She will have a few months of physical therapy ahead of her, but we are praying that the surgery was a success and she will have more movement in her back and a lot less pain. She had 4 screws put into her vertebrates to get them off one another and unpinch a nerve. She has suffered for years now and God knew to hold her off until now for the surgery....it was a new procedure, but one they have had great success with too. I just marvel at how God's timing is so much better than our timing. Please continue to pray for her.

Now, for our household. We have just been busy all around. Last week we were visiting my grandmother in the hospital alot so that took a good portion of the week. We had basketball games last weekend, our oldest arrow shot the winning shot for her team!! So, we had to celebrate with ice cream once we got home! The other 2 arrows had their games on Saturday afternoon and one team won and the other team lost....it was the first loss for that team, but I think it was good to teach them how to lose gracefully. I think it is important for kids to learn how to lose gracefully, God doesn't promise us a life of happiness everyday, no trials, but He does promise us......

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." Acts 2:39 ESV

God is with us during our trials, strengthening us, conditioning us, drawing us closer to Himself....for our good, for our sanctification. I am so grateful for such a loving Father. Aren't you?

After such a busy week last week, this week has been slower. It has been nice to relax, get back into the school swing, since last week it was school on the go. We got the school room cleaned up and organized again. The kids are still enjoying their curriculum on the computer...and I am so thankful for them! That was the hardest to teach on 3 different grade levels. Now we just do Science, History and Spelling together. Reading they do on their own, or we read a book aloud together, with discussion afterwards. Speaking of school....it's past time to get our started! Gotta run! Have a Blessed Day!

Let me clarify

I wanted to clarify a few things about my previous post. I received an anonymous comment from a blogger and wasn't sure if they were under the thinking that I have a problem with President Elect Obama. So, here is a copy of the comment, a friends' reply and my own reply as well.

From Anonymous:
I also praise the Lord and tell the kids that the fact that an african american is going to be president is such an exciting thing. We need to view people as souls to be won for Christ and not by the color of their skin. God had a incredible imagination when He created us ALL. I pray that President Elect Obama would have a change of heart in his convictions and would see the truth as it is in God's word.

From a Friend:
Just to be clear, I don't believe that I, nor the blog owner have ever said anything to disparage Obama for his color. I would have rather voted for Alan Keyes than McCain myself. It has to do with his worldview, his ideology and his socialist views. There has been enough of a shift toward socialism with this ridiculous bailout that was proposed by the Democrat Paulson and backed by President Bush. Yes, the LORD created us red and yellow, black and white as the children's song goes. And God puts the governments into place. And it is good that enough Americans don't look at color. But it is sad that not enough people, Christians in specific, looked at worldview and ideology.

And my Own Personal Reply:
For those that know me, you will know that I do not discriminate against any people group (I use the term "people group" because I don't use the term "race" since we are all one race under Adam and Eve and then under Noah after the flood). My issue is not with President Elect Obama's people group, but the issues that he stands for. The Bible is clear about a number of the issues he will be facing and I am more concerned with his constant wavering on those issues, or not being clear on where he stands.

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. James 5:12

The book of James is pretty clear there! Let your "Yes" be Yes and "No" be No. President Elect Obama has made some pretty uncertain decisions in his recent past as well as comments that waiver and don't directly answer the questions asked of him.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in i the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16

The 3 verses taken above from the Bible are examples of issues that President Elect Obama is in contradiction with God. He has made it clear where he stands and they do not follow God's plans for us. God is the Life giver and Life taker....since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. Acts 17:25 God determines when a life shall begin and when it ends, God has already defined marriage the way He intended it, God has made these things clear to us through His scripture. I hope it is clearer now, it is NOT the color of anyones skin, not the people group in which they are from, for God created us all, it is the fact that he doesn't stand for what God has commanded us to do and how He has commanded us to live. It's that simple.

What does our future hold???

I am often amazed to hear people talk about the future as if they don't know what is happening. I mean, this is from faithful believers, faithful Christians that I have known most of my life or at least for a long time. I have listened to everyone talk about this past election with fear, anger, and uncertainty. I find this interesting because the Bible tells us so differently!!

God is in complete control. He knew who would be president before we voted, He knows what will happen, His will is being laid out before us. We are all deserving of Gods wrath, but He has given us a way out through Christ. I spoke to people yesterday that were upset, down and depressed about the outcome of the election. I almost laugh.....really? Where is your faith? What has happened? I have been studying lately about timidity and fear. Ummmm, you know....the things that God tell us NOT to be.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

Scripture is pretty clear there.....we are being tested and God didn't give us a spirit of fear. We should be seeking God's word, His will, laying face down before Him in repentance. I have found myself teaching my kids differently...instead of teaching them the Bible says this about obeying and honoring, we are covering why we make the choices we do. Our HEARTS are wicked and full of evil.

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34

Yesterday I spoke to the girls about the heart, their hearts, and why we choose the things we do...because of our selfish desire to please ourselves and not God. It was a good lesson and one that I needed. It made me humble myself before them, show them the error of my ways and their ways too. I don't want my kids to think, Mommy is perfect, she doesn't sin, how do you do that? Because truthfully I am such a worm, a despicable worm and so worthy of everything that God would give me, but He saved me. He sent His Son for me....and you.

So, what shall I do in this time? Shall I fear? NO....I will look at my life, seek God's face, bow my face before the throne of God, get on my knees, pray, and study God's word more. I will seek to live the life God would have me live and I ask you, please do the same!!

So, now have a Blessed Day and remember to not fear, but put on the spirit of POWER, LOVE and SELF CONTROL!!!

Honor....

Yesterday was our 2nd day of school for this week. It was not a good day, but rather one of those days when you sit down and think, "why am I doing this?", "Should I send them to public school?", "I'm the worst teacher in the world.", and when your husband walks in the door, you look at him and say "I HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE!" It happened last night. My dearest husband walked in and I turned to him with wide tired eyes and said "I have to go outside!" So, I went outside, phone in hand talking to another homeschooling mom and cried, while spilling my heart out to her. BLESS HER for listening and trying to encourage me. She did make me feel better, she helped me to see that I need to ask for help and not try to do everything myself and I have to take care of me. I pray that God will strengthen me so that I can do it all these things. After my meltdown I went back inside and found my family eating dinner, peacefully, and quietly. I joined them. Everyone enjoyed the meal, the kids were excused to finish folding laundry and Blessed Daddy and I were left at the table to "talk." He asked to be excused so that he could prepare a lesson. I assumed he meant to prepare for the next week's Sunday School lesson....no, he meant for our kids. After the kids folded all the laundry and put their things away, we all met in the school room. It was WONDERFUL!!

Blessed Daddy posted 2 Bible verses on the board.
Deuteronomy 5:16 "'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you."
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."

We discussed who wrote each passage, whom they were writing to, where they were found in the Bible, and most importantly what each one meant. We looked up the word "honor" and discussed how we can honor our parents. It was a great lesson for all of us. I even learned something! The definition of honor can me "good name", to give someone a good name by honoring them....so our children give us a good name within the church, family, community when they are honoring us. We talked about all the ways in which we did NOT honor mommy today and then how we could honor mommy. I think everyone had a better understanding of how to help our days. Also, Blessed Daddy got a good dose of what I go through everyday while teaching! Edwin was into everything and Ellianna couldn't keep her mouth shut!! Just like when Mommy is trying to teach....it's exhausting!! I know I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me and I will continue to home school because this is the calling God has laid on our hearts. But MAN....yesterday was a serious Test and I FLUNKED!!!!!!!! Thank goodness for forgiveness and a new day! Praise God!

I pray that you all are having better homeschooling days!! Keep looking to Christ!