The Lord is my Strength and Shield

Before I write anything here from the word of God, I ask God to show me what he wants me to share. I can not ever just read the bible, I have to ask God for his direction. I always, and I mean always, am taken back when he reveals the scripture for me to read. Sometimes I need to read it a couple times and pray about it. God always shows me the scripture I need for whatever my situation. Tonight my anxiety is a little high! I did not sleep too well last night and there are so many things that are supposed to fall into place this week. All things that can create higher anxiety for me! Also, just being confined at home with little to do will raise my anxiety! For any one who has never struggled with anxiety! Well first, thank God! And know that anxiety is different from worry, it is more like worry personified times 10! It is often irrational and can creep up when you least expect it! I believe the many trials I have had in my life, the line of work I chose and various other factors are precipitators of my anxiety. I did not mean to bore you with all that, I digressed a little. Not by much! Tonight before opening my bible I asked God to show me what he wanted me to read and to share.
This is it: Joshua 1:9 This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you where ever you go.
Bet you can see now why I went on that little tangent about anxiety! And that is why I ask him to show me what it is he wants me to read! And if you think that is pretty cool; I have a devotional study bible for women (there are a ton of great study bibles for everyone!) Tonights verse and study discusses radical paths, extreme situations." The dilemma is extreme and the only solution is a radical one. You've thought it through and you've considered all the alternatives. Your throat is sore from praying and your eyes burn from weeping. You know it's right but you are scared." ( I paraphrased tonights devotional) We made the radical choice to move here by faith, the situation certianly was extreme. God reminds me that I do not need to be afraid or discouraged! So tonight I will sleep with a lighter heart! God is with us and his plan is perfect! This week things will work out in their own time and in their own way.
Psalm 28:6-7 Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all of my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Blah!

It has been a pretty gray and gloomy day! After we cleaned the house, it was just a an afternoon of reading! Over all it has been  boring day! The only sort of excitement we had was waiting for the mail to come. And once the mail had arrived, it was just a let down! The poor mail guy probably thinks we are as crazy as bed bugs! That is OK!  I am helping Kelly work on her project this afternoon. It is sad that I look forward to helping her on homework as much as I do! Boy, we need something to do with ourselves! That is just about it for the afternoon! Guess I had better consider cooking dinner! Aha, something to do!!

Waiting to Exhale!

Good morning! I know, I know it's Monday! It still can be good! I'm not sure what the day has in store for us here! We have no plans again! I am grateful for that, I slept very poorly last night! This morning Shawn and Kelly were up early. Kelly to get ready for school and Shawn to drive her. When one of our neighborhood kids came knocking on the door. He was looking too see if the offer for a ride to school, Shawn had made, was still on the table. This young man lives another street past ours, it is quite the significant walk to the high school Kelly and he attend! Today was raining and I guess he finally couldn't stand walking in rain another  minute, so he finally came knocking! Shawn reassured him that it would be no trouble giving him a ride to and from school, just as long as he was at the house by a specific time and waiting with Kelly after school. Now as long as the finances come through this week like we were told they would (in writing!), then we can stay true to that promise! Shawn and I feel pretty optimistic that we have turned the corner on all the waiting and that things will be in place by February 1st and no later than the 4th. That is what we have been told and now we have to be faithful that it will happen! I tell you what, if they all do fall into place as we have been told, there will be a very sudden wind gust down here in Montgomery!! That will be from the four of us finally exhaling!! Sometimes that is what this whole situation has felt like, we took a deep breath, made a big dive, but when we came up for air, we came up at the wrong time! Now we are in the final stretch and we are waiting to exhale!

Be Encouraged!

I have just watched a couple of the new postings for 30 Days Homeless. I pray that all of you have taken the opportunity to check out this site and hear about the mission Pastor Ryan set out to do. Today was the last day of Pastor Ryan living out on the streets, however I believe his heart will stay there! He has shared some pretty incredible stories!
Isaiah 40:31 Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
That is my prayer for those Pastor Ryan has met through his mission. That those living on the streets will have a new found hope and strength the Lord will carry them through this. That they be encouraged, God is NOT far from them.
Isaiah 40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.
That is my prayer for all of you, to be encouraged! Funny as I write this, I have to confess, somewhere in the back of my mind this morning's sermon must still be playing. The sermon was on encouragement! There is no such thing as coincidence where God is concerned!Today he must be telling me something, something very important! As Brother Knight discussed this morning; God sees the potential in all of us. People need to be encouraged.We can encourage by giving, we can encourage by forgiving and we can encourage by seeing other people's potential. I suppose before I start the finger pointing at "we", I had better take a good look at me! If you need some encouragement, I pray that you will have it heaped upon you!

Walking By Choice!

The girls and I left early for church and was able to find an ATM on that side of town that allows you to take money out in $1 increments! We were able to take out $19 of the $20 my folks gave to us, hooray! That meant I was able to put gas in the truck, even better...Kelly won't have to walk to school! She is quite pleased, it is supposed to rain on and off the next few days! So we drove to church and then drove home! It was an incredible service! When I prayed that first Sunday here for God to provide us with a church, he most definitely did just that! I really enjoy Heritage Baptist church! I can not speak for the girls, however I believe they love it too! I continue to pray that Shawn will want to go with us!
This afternoon it looks like rain! We are all considering taking a walk after we have all finished lunch! Walking by choice!! Later on this evening, Kelly will be going back to church for a big youth group event. She is pretty excited and I am excited for her. We found out at least one of the girls there lives in our neighborhood. My prayer is that Kelly and she will get along and Kelly will have a young lady her age to hang out with in the neighborhood! Be in prayer that both the girls will make some good connections here!

Getting Ready for Church!

Yay, it's Sunday! And even if I drive there, run out  of gas and have to walk back, I am going! Kate Lynn is in the shower, Kelly is grumbling and groaning in her room! I may be partially responsible for her grumbling, I may have taking a picture of her while she was sleeping! The sound of my camera phone woke her up! She immediately greeted me with "you better erase that!", no "good morning mom!". The 3 of us girls will be off to church soon! It is looking like another nice day today! When we get home from church, it may be sandwiches on the front porch. I am still quite taken back by my very different winter here! There is a slight chance of rain later this afternoon and it is going to be near 70 degrees,wow! I pray that all of you have a very nice Sunday! I will talk to you at the next post!

What color is cinnamon!

Kate Lynn cooked dinner tonight while I helped Kelly with a school project! Kate Lynn made her favorite dinner for all of us, chicken potpie over mashed potatoes and frozen corn on the cob. She did a good job with all of it! The school project turned into a nice distraction for me! I was really feeling yuck today, tonight I am feeling pretty decent! After I am finished here the girls and I are going to play cards. Shawn has turned into bed all ready. He and I discussed how he was coping with everything, he says he is doing OK, he just is tired. Being tired is a symptom of depression and it is completely understandable if he is struggling with that. As long as all other symptoms are in check and I am comfortable that they are! We were able to sit out on the front porch and soak up a whole bunch of the warm sunshine today, always a mood lifter! Today was a balmy 74 degrees, not too shabby for January! We walked a great deal today, exercise is also a pretty good mood lifter! Too bad we weren't looking to exercise! This won't be a typical winter, you know when the weather is freezing, the roads slick, the snow piled high and you put on a few winter pounds!
All right, time to go play cards with the girls, they are arguing over what color cinnamon is!!