I Will Be Back

Okay, I'm taking a break from blogging. Just till the new year though. I'm not liking the direction I've been going in. Not that there is anything wrong with it, it just doesn't really feel like I'm writing what I want to, just trying to fill space. After looking over my blog for the last few months, I feel it is wanting. So, I'm going to take a break, and be back with some really good stuff in January!

Something that has been on my heart...writing some devotions.
Before I go, I want to talk about a few things God has been doing in me.

Stacy and I began visiting Providence Church earlier this year. We both felt that God was calling us somewhere else, but we weren't sure where, till we went here. And from the beginning, I have felt God working in my life in such a way that I am in awe everyday of it!

I was 5 when I first confessed my faith in Jesus. It was Baptist church in a small west Texas town, in a sunday school class taught my mother. I remember that we were learning about the fruits of the spirit, and that having Jesus in our lives meant that we would have those fruits. When we were ending class there was of course an opportunity for us to "accept Jesus into our hearts". And I knew that I wanted Jesus, I wanted those fruits, I wanted Jesus to help me.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when I was 5 years old, God called me. He put in my heart to believe in Jesus. I was drawn by the spirit to accept the salvation of my soul. I didn't know it then like it know it now. I knew like a 5 year old. Jesus was in my heart, and I was saved.

That is my conversion story. But, since God has led us to Providence Church, I have been given a revelation of God's grace. My life had been working, proving to everyone that I was truely righteous, making sure that people knew I was walking in the path of righteousness. Talk about getting tired!!

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

If I was really walking in God's truth, why was I always so tired? God brought us to rest at Providence Church! And while I have been resting, I am awake! I more awake to the light of Christ than ever before.

I want to list all the verses that talk about the grace of God, and His work in our lives, and being built up into His holy temple.

Romans 5 is awesome!
But really all of Romans is good, there's a reason the baptist call it the Roman Road to salvation.

One of my favorites, and one that has become the cornerstone of my faith

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

I have found freedom in Christ. In the revelation that nothing I do can make me righteous, that my works are not what saves me or causes me to stay in a state of salvation, I have found freedom. I have found rest, I have found peace! Because of God's grace, I am changed. I am being changed. From glory to glory, till Christ's return when I will be made complete in Him.

People always want to know what your testimony is, and I have always struggled. I didn't know how to explain what Christ has done for me. I think it is because I was so consumed with working things out. Sunday, it hit me. No matter what your life was like, before God, you were dead in sin. My testimony is this, that I was dead in sin and transgressions, but Jesus Christ has saved me. He broke my chains and paid my debt and now I am set free.

I pray you all have amazing Christmas, celebrating the greatest gift given to men.
Luke 2:11-14
¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

This and That....Thursday?: You Can Get With This or You Can Get With That

I missed my regular This and That Tuesday! So, by now I'm sure you have noticed two recurring themes, Worship Sundays and This and That Tuesdays (or in this case, Thursdays). I think if I have a format I will be more likely to keep up with blogging!

Without further ado...

The year before the Kia Soul came onto the scene, I had stumbled across a website with pictures of it, and thought to myself, this is a pretty cool car, I like it.

In anticipation, I waited for the arrival of the Soul.

And then, I saw the commercials....
I'm sure you have to.

No commercial has made me dislike a car, more than these...



Really? Like rapping rats are supposed to make me want a vehicle? Why would I want a car that only a rat can seem to enjoy?

IMHO,
This was a lame marketing tool, but everywhere I look, I see the new Kia Soul. Maybe everyone else wants to join the rat race...

Worship Sunday: If God is For Us

This was one of the songs for worship this morning at church, and God was really hitting me hard.

Last month was a test for me. Stacy (my husband - for those who may have stumbled on to here), is a car salesman. Which in a nutshell, is by God's design. I may blog about that someday, but it's a long story!

So, as most of us know, it is mostly commission, and if he doesn't sale cars, he doesn't make money. From the very beginning, I have struggled with and against his job, nagging and complaining every time things don't go my way, i.e. working late, no days off, and the list could on.

So, October was one of those months.
It started slow, so slow I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to get started. And about middle of the month, things were still at a stand still. I began to think of our finances, our bills, our lease payment, our car payment, I thought till all these things began to look larger than Mount Everest! I started looking for work from home jobs, other jobs for Stacy, loans, and credit cards.
I was going to solve this!
What did God show me?
The last week and half of the month, the sales came in! And they weren't just car sales, they were sales that made the money and then some!!!
Is God faithful or what?
Did I deserve His faithfulness?

NO!

I was so much like the Hebrew children in the wilderness;
"God brought us here to let us die",
"Let's go back to Egypt (credit cards and debt)".

Needless to say, I spent some time repenting for this. But He loves me so much, His reminder this morning was a blessing. I can't worry about jobs or money or tomorrow, I have to have faith that God is on my side, He is for me. If God is for me, what stand against me? Slow sales, poor management, and picky customers don't stand a chance against what God has for me.

2Kings 6:16
¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Psalm 118:6
⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

1 John 4:4
⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Romans 8:31
³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

This and That Tuesday: Homeschool, Worksheets, and Making Education Fun

education.com

So, today I was looking for some worksheets that Caeli and Alyvia can do on those days that we just can't get to our actual school work. And I ran across this website with free printables and a lot of other resources!

I also looked at these websites with affordable workbooks:

School Zone

Beaver Books

I am always on the lookout for additional resources so that the girls don't get bored with doing the same things all the time.

With it being a rainy day, and being stuck indoors, I am reminded that winter is just around the corner, and we will soon be feeling the effects of cabin fever! So, now I'm on to look for creative ways to exercise and get moving inside the house...