Brown Paper Lunch Bags!

Growing up my mom packed me a lunch for school until the day I graduated from high school.  My mom made great lunches so I was never sad about not being able to purchase food from school.....well, except for pizza day maybe.  

These brown bags have shown up at our house this week.  And I could not be more excited for the reason.  Today, I made my hubby a lunch for work.  John started his new job after a 1/2 of a year trying to find something....anything.  We finally know that God has him right where he needs to be.  Each step of this journey we have been on has lead us here.   

God does His part!
It has only been by God's provision that we have gotten this far.    I can not escape His care.  He has been in all the details of our lives, which I cannot deny.  

^{Matthew 6}

²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸ “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

My devotions today were a great reminder of His hand in our lives. There have been so many countless, miraculous ways God has provided for us over the last 6 months from checks in the mail to winning a $100 gift card for being the 12th caller...the list is endless.  God has been so faithful.  He has been so good even though it seemed extremely scary and we could not see how it would all work out.  

But if God really takes care of the birds and the flowers....surely He will take care of those He loves, which is us.  He will give as all that we need and be all that we need.  He can see the beginning and the end.  He knows our stories more personally than anyone.  If we could only grab a hold of that and believe that He is working all things out for our good.  

Romans 8:28

²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Someone told me recently that God always answers us.  He is never late.  But He is also never early (that is a hard one).  He answers exactly in His perfect timing and we may never know all that means this side of heaven.  He is working so much in the details of our lives and the lives our life touches.  We could never comprehend all the details.  Our life is kind of like a ripple, we never know how far out that ripple goes and who will come in contact with that ripple and be moved by it.  

I have to do my part!
I think one of the biggest hurdles for me this past 6 months has been that last verse Matthew 6.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

To live today and not plan, manage,and control the future has taken some serious letting go.   We are not guaranteed tomorrow, we cannot even figure out what will really happen.  We can only live this moment.  Have you really tried living in each and every moment...it is hard if you have always lived for the future and your plans.  

If we were honest with ourselves we would answer this question, "What really can I control?"  Your answer will inevitable be...  I can't control anything, just my own reactions to what happens. But God controls everything; we are in the palm of His hand.

"I can't...

God can...

I might as well let Him!"

When I try to manage my life and control it, it is like I am slowly trying to grip on to my problems instead of releasing my life to God.  When I grip and pull it close to me, I am not letting God really have all of me.  It says to God, "I don't really trust you to manage my situation".  I have felt the struggle of pulling back each and every finger to release my life to God and trust.  I have to do it everyday.  It is hard.  It is painful.  It is freeing!

If you are struggling because you don't have a job, you face sickness, your marriage is falling into pieces, you have lost a loved one, your finances are in shambles, or anything that you may be struggling with...God hears you.  He cares about you and He will meet your need and be all you need.  The answer will come for you in just the right time.  God will help you, comfort you, and answer you. 

Psalm 116:2

Because he bends down to listen,

    I will pray as long as I have breath!

If God will do all that for me, I know He will do it for you.  He has never failed me and He has never failed you.  People fail...God does not.  The condition is we have to open our grip and release our lives to Him.

May He show Himself to you this Christmas season and may we open our eyes and ears to see and hear Him.  

Live this moment and....

GET JOY!

Move In!

We have been looking to move to a new city, where our new church is for some time now.   We know that God has told us to go there; but we have hit some road blocks in getting there.  Our biggest problem has been selling our home and finding a new one in the place God is telling us to go.  It has been so frustrating to know that we need to go; but not knowing how to do it!  

But when we step out of the way, God can do something amazing.

God wants us to be obedient!

In September, God told me to go get boxes.  I felt that He wanted me to start packing; because He was going to move us.  I got to a point that if I wasn't going to get them then I would be disobeying Him.  So, I turned my car around and went to pick them up.  As I threw the boxes in the back of the van I thought, "This is nuts.  We don't have a place to move to and we have not sold our house.  I have lost my mind...yup...lost it."

Three Wednesday's ago, at our new church, I went to choir.  A dear friend of ours stopped me and told us about some townhouses they use to live in and that we should check them out.  How could I have ever known that small conversation would start a chain reaction of miracles? 

The next day, John and I ho-hummed about checking into them. We finally decided that it wouldn't hurt to call to see if they even had anything we were looking for.  When praying for a home I felt God wanted me to pray very specifically for our next house, bedrooms, bathrooms, basement, everything.  I felt that was crazy too.  The lady at the townhouses told us that they had a four bedroom available.  She said that it was odd to have one open and no waiting list.  Apparently, there is always a waiting list for the four bedrooms.  On Monday, John went and got the paperwork.  

I then asked some ladies to partner with me in prayer, over the next several days, regarding the sell of our home and a new one.  Here is what I asked them Tuesday, Oct 2nd...
"Would you all take some time this week in your prayer time and pray for us. We really feel strongly that we need to move to our new city soon. Would you ask God to give us wisdom and release us from our house here. We need either a miracle in our house selling or some one to rent. Our house is what is holding us back from moving forward. It is time to move forward. You all are dear sisters and I know that you will lift us up in prayer. I know that you have been already. I just wanted to give you specifics on how to pray."

The next day, Wednesday, we went and looked at the townhouse together as a family.  It was perfect.  We loved it and decided it would be just right for us.  But we left depressed; because we could not afford rent and a mortgage.  We needed to hear from the Lord.  We needed to know if we were about to make the stupidest decision of our lives or take a leap of faith.  I was really hoping we were not making a stupid choice.  We needed God to speak to us A.S.A.P!

We were about to hear loud and clear what God wanted us to do as we walked into our new church that evening.  We each went to our different Wednesday classes.  And each person in my family talked to God about our situation.  My nine year old asked her class to pray for the sale of our home and to find a new one.  My 12 year old prayed about it in youth group and felt we should move to the townhouse...Could have been God or it could have been her own room.  She tells us it was God.  LOL  My hubby felt as someone prayed with him that we would be in the townhouse by Christmas.  

And then there is what God spoke to me in choir....

My choir has over 100 people in it.  It is like mini church in a big church.  I love, love, love it!  I stand way over on the side in the alto section towards the back.  We typically have praise and worship, short devotion by Pastor Leon, and then we practice.  We had just finished an awesome time of worship and I was putting my music together and looking at it while Pastor Leon was sharing what God had placed on his heart.  Yeah, I wasn't paying attention (sorry Pastor Leon) until he said something that captured my undivided attention.  

He said, "Some of you have some giants in your life that you are facing right now."

In my head I thought, "Yup Pastor Leon, my house is a really big giant, it is not selling."  

Pastor Leon the said, "God wants to remove that giant in your life.  In fact, He promises He will remove those giants for you."

"Ok, Pastor Leon I hear you, but God isn't removing my giant.  I don't understand why.  I know that He wants us to move here.  But we can't because of our house, our giant.  I can't make my house sell.  What can I do?" I said to myself

He then followed my question with this, "There is a condition on us for God to remove our giants from the land.

"Bring it Pastor Leon, I'm ready.  Tell me what it is I need to do!  I will do it...Lay it out there brother. I am ready."

"You need to go in and OCCUPY!  You need to MOVE in!"

"What!  Are you crazy?  Are you kidding me, Lord?  Am I hearing this right?  Is Pastor Leon hearing my thoughts?  Yes, I think I might be going crazy.  You are telling me to move in?!  Seriously!"

Pastor Leon said, "God has placed His desires in your heart.  You need to be obedient and move in!"

"MOVE IN!"

"MOVE IN!"

Yeah, I think he said it three times.  Finally, I told the Lord...."Okay Lord, I hear you loud and clear. We will take the leap of faith and MOVE IN!"  I hope Pastor Leon is really listening to the Holy Spirit; because this could be really bad.  Hahahahahahaha  I decided I better not tell him what we were about to do. I'm a pastor myself, I know that he might talk this insane lady out of it. LOL

(just in case you were wondering....yes I really thought those things and I talk to God like that all the time.)

On the ride home, our family decided that God was trying to tell us to move and we needed to be obedient.  It's crazy...but we will be obedient.  

Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’ Deut. 1:21 nlt

God wants us to listen

I think it was Friday that I was shopping at the local grocery store here and I was in a hurry to get home.  I was pushing my cart through the bakery and saw someone from our old church, we call her grandma.  I had to make a decision, do I talk to her or do I keep walking.  She hasn't seen me yet.  Has that ever happened to you?  I'll be honest there have been times that I have kept walking.  But Thank God, I listened to the Holy Spirit and stopped my stupid busy life to make time for someone.  

We chatted and then she said, "I sold my house, and I am looking for one in town."

"Grandma, you know we are selling our house?"

We chatted some more a determined our house was out of her price range.  The last thing I said to her was, "God has a home for you and a buyer for us."

I stood in my kitchen later that day and felt that God wanted our house to go to Grandma.  "Lord, if you can figure out how we can break even and she can afford it.  She can have it.  In fact Lord, I want her to have it. Work it out Lord, work it out."

We got our moving truck and my husband called Grandma's daughter to talk about the house and see if there was anything we could do.  

Last Wednesday, Granny sat our kitchen table and signed the purchase agreement.  God provided for both of us.   Our home will become Grandma's home in November.  God is so cool.

God wants to provide

God took care of releasing our home and He provided us the townhouse to rent. 

Last Friday, we signed the lease to our new home.  We left with the keys in our hands and the lady's there scratching their heads saying, "We have never seen anything like this, there is always a waiting list.  It was like it was meant for your family."  

We move in this Friday into the land that God promised us. 

Yup, God takes care of his children!  I have no doubts about that!

Here we are standing in front of our new home. 
Shorty did like it even though his face says otherwise.

Anyone want to help us move?  LOL  Not kidding!

GET JOY!

30 Days in Prayer 2011~ Day 1

For the next 30 days I am going to spend "30 Days in Prayer". I want to focus the next month on prayer. I am going to follow the simple pattern Jesus gave us, the Lords Prayer. Join me as I sharpen my prayer life and let this time encourage and strengthen your walk with the Lord.

What God's Word says about Prayer:

Matthew 6:9-13(New King James Version)
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Prayer Guide:
I am using the "Lord's Prayer" as a guide. (Matthew 6:9-13)

1. Praise God for Who He is!

Today, I am going to focus on: He is our Provider!

Genesis 22:14 (New American Standard Bible)
Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided."

2. Pray for His Will to be done!

Today, I am going to focus on: His will in my life.

3. Pray for Him to meet our needs:

Today, I am going to focus on:

• My families needs.


• My dear friend Jenilee that God would heal her.

4. Pray for forgiveness and that I would forgive others.

5. Pray for Help against Temptation!

Today, I am going to focus on "Putting on the Armor of God" Gal. 6

6. Thank God for His Goodness

Today, I am going to focus on: Thanking Him because I know He will provide my needs.

7. Wait on God

Today, I am going to wait on Him!

In Christ's Name, Amen!

Day 1 ~ God is our Provider
Day 2 ~ God is our Creator
Day 3 ~ God is Holy
Day 4 ~ God is Full of Grace
Day 5 ~ God is Stronger
Day 6 ~ God is Good
Day 7 ~ God is my Joy
Day 8 ~ God is Amazing
Day 9 ~ God is Love
Day 10 ~ God is My Everything
Day 11 ~ God is My Sovereign Lord
Day 12 ~ God is Holy
Day 13 ~ God is Faithful
Day 14 ~ God is Patient
Day 15 ~ God is Everlasting
Day 16 ~ God is Great
Day 17 ~ God is my Savior
Day 18 ~ God is my Victory
Day 19 ~ God is
Day 20 ~ God is
Day 21 ~ God is
Day 22 ~ God is
Day 23 ~ God is
Day 24 ~ God is
Day 25 ~ God is
Day 26 ~ God is
Day 27 ~ God is
Day 28 ~ God is
Day 29 ~ God is
Day 30 ~ God is