Monday's Life in Him

Who wants to join in “Monday's Life In Him”? It’s easy… Just grab this button below & post it somewhere either on your blog post or on your main page. Then… Write a post about HIM (Jesus) You could post a verse, You could share a short story. Either way… Let’s spread His Word and His Love!

Matthew 7:7-8 (New International Version, ©2010)

Ask, Seek, Knock

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
When I was pregnant with my son I was warned that I probably wouldn't carry him to full term. I was prepared then by one of the obstetricians that he didn't believe I would deliver a live baby. The baby just wasn't growing the way they wanted him to. I was being prepared to miscarry or for a stillbirth. You can't prepare for either. Not an expecting mother. I was having a very difficult time with the news. At this point in time I had never attended church as an adult. I hadn't picked up the bible. Didn't pray much. And my husband hadn't been in years but used to be very devoted and faithful. Although he used to be he wasn't anymore.
Well, this day came and my husband had to go back to work. He called from work to reassure me that the doctors were wrong and he didn't believe a word they said. I asked him "What are we going to do? I can't go through that!" He said, read the bible. Pray. And that's exactly what I did. I didn't know where to open to, what to read...so I decided that whatever page I opened is what I would read. And Matthew 7 it was. And just like He has every time since then, God spoke so strongly to me! In that very moment, I was calm. I knew that I could handle whatever it was that God intended for my family.
His plans for us?

We serve an awesome God!

My walk-II

This is a very touchy subject, I realize. I am not trying to be controversial, just sharing a bit about my side & opinions.
I wrote a similar post to this one months back. You can read about it by clicking {here}.
I have not attended church for just over a year now. I'm not posting this to be boastful, not by any means. I'm not proud of the fact nor however, am I ashamed. Does this mean I am no longer considered a Christian? I pray, praise, worship and talk to & listen to God daily. I haven't read the bible cover to cover. I admit that I rarely read the bible-something I'd like to change. My feelings, beliefs, thoughts on God and The Church (not church, but The Church) haven't changed. My thoughts on church however, have. Or should I rephrase and say my thoughts on the people that attend church have changed. As a non Christian, I had never thought of Christians as "bible thumpers" or people who considered themselves to be of a higher standard than others or thought themselves to be better people. Better humans. Better Christians. It was after I started attending church as an adult that I began to see all of the things that have made me withdraw.

Hearing a pastor's wife say things like, "I am not supposed to say anything so don't tell anyone this but....." Really? People go to a pastor and his family and church board for guidance, for help, structure and under the impression that it is in total and complete confidence.

I've seen the difference in people at church and outside of it. We all see that though, I'm sure. I act completely different at home than I do at church.

I recently heard someone refer to someone else as a weak Christian. I'm sorry, I didn't know there was a way you could find a distinction. Is there a rule book somewhere? How many hours does this person pray weekly? CHECK! Does this person attend church every Sunday & Wednesday? CHECK! Do they carry a bible with them? CHECK! How many people have they led to Jesus? CHECK! Does this person volunteer and give back to the community? CHECK! You'll have to pardon my sarcasm here as this is to me, what most would under these standards consider a "weak" Christian, hard for me to hear! We all have a story. We all have a voice, something that has given us inspiration or moved us to join a church or say a prayer or read the bible. EVERYONE has a story, a struggle, a tragedy but some of us don't share that story openly. Or in front of an entire congregation.

I didn't grow up in a household that regularly attended church. Church for us was a reward. Something we looked forward to but couldn't count on seeing. My father was an alcoholic, things are different under those circumstances. (I'm proud to say however, my father attends church now and no longer drinks!)

Anyway, my point here is that just because someone doesn't outwardly display what most would consider strong Christian values, it doesn't mean they aren't Christian. It doesn't mean that person doesn't have the strong values. Doesn't even mean that they don't show them. It just means that some choose not to see them. And those that choose not to see them, I often find are the ones that point fingers, are judgmental, hypocritical. We are all learning, striving to be better. A strong Christian has to start somewhere. So aren't we,new Christians the beginning makings of a strong Christian? As long as we are still fighting to be children of God and practice righteousness I don't think it is fair to be categorized. We WANT to produce much good fruit for Jesus. I also am not categorizing Christians with good, strong roots in any negative manor! I'm not trying to imply that all are the same.

We know from scripture that God is judge of all. {1 Samuel 2:10, Psalms 50:6, Isaiah 3:13} God is our judge because he is all-knowing, he is Truth. His judgments are righteous. But even though God alone is the judge, it doesn't mean that he is the only one who casts judgment. God is pleased by those who seek to judge....righteously! And I guess that's my key complaint. Some Christians take it upon themselves to judge, which is not what I have issues with. Some decide to forget the fact that God has set restrictions on judging.

When we judge others for committing sins that we partake in, we are condemning ourselves. { Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37-42, Romans 2:1-5}
We are also told not to judge according to appearances or by the flesh. {John 7:24, James 2:1-4}
Do not judge based on lies or misrepresentations. {James 4:11-12}

I'm sure some of you are saying, yes, this is found to be true. But you are going to have some of this everywhere. It's impossible to weed out those that you do find. EXACTLY!
Rather than see and hear these things by the people who are to be the example to new Christians, weak Christians, I, for the time being, prefer to worship my God in my own way, without sitting in a sanctuary feeling negatively and missing the point of the sermon completely. I know that in time I will be able to get over this feeling. I know that in God's time, he will have given me the knowledge and the wisdom to accept these things that have made me withdraw and that some day I will again be comfortable in church.

I think for the time being my plan for us is to "home" church. Watching services online and bible school the children ourselves. This also eliminates any controversy my daughter may be having with other young ones in the youth church services.


Romans 2:11-For God shows no partiality.

Weekend Wordle-just to put it in black and white, God is bigger than everything else :)

As soon as I saw this on Lora's page, I knew I loved it! And so now I've become addicted to them! And this is only my second time posting them! Sad? Yes, well...what can ya do? Absolutely nothing..haha! Or I suppose you could stop reading.....anyway, here is my wordle for this weekend. I love it! Imagine that! My most favoritest thing about this particular one is that God is bigger than everything else. And that it's in black and white! Kind of like saying, okay, I'm puttin it in black and white for you, God is bigger than everything!

To participate go to this site. Have fun!

Unanswered Prayers

I'm not typically the type of person that sits back and asks what if. But do you ever? Sit back and wonder where you would be today IF the thing you wanted most at one point in your life had actually happened the way you wished? How much would your life have changed? How different could things be today? If you had only made a decision a little differently or chose a different path. If God had only granted you the one thing you prayed about...
Occasionally, while reminiscing and remembering in the old thoughts and memories that have been covered in cob webs for many years, I will wonder where I would be today if things had been different. Would I still be living back "home"? Still have two children? A loving husband to hold me? What would have happened had I not met the friends I have along the way? How would that have affected me? Would I feel the same about the way I feel about things?
And then my children run to me, wanting to be held, hugged, cuddled; laughing and loving with me. Or my husband will say something that takes me back to the day we met. Or fell in love. Or a funny moment we shared together. And immediately I'm snapped out of the tiny moment years ago that my mind was tinkering with. And I'm back to reality. This wonderful, amazing reality of a life that God has given me. I'm so blessed! Beyond what I ever asked for or deserve. And I'm thankful, so thankful that God didn't give me the things I wanted so badly to have back then, didn't put me where I thought I wanted to be. Thought I needed to be. He knows best. It is all part of his master plan. We don't have to understand it, but eventually, if we don't accept it, life will have swept by, leaving us in a swirling torrent of wants and wishes. It took me time to truly know that everything happens for a reason. God will not open a door or a window without giving you another to walk through. And while it may not have been the door you would have picked had you the choice, eventually it will lead you to the place you wanted to be but better! If I knew then what I know now, the walk to where I am now wouldn't have been as interesting. I appreciate every little thing in my life and have zero regrets. Because a different path most certainly would have made me a different person that I am today. Whether for good or bad. I'm not afraid of falling down now because somewhere along the way God taught me how to get back up. (Or should I say I finally heard Him!) And I'm happier than I've ever been. I.AM.BLESSED.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.     Jeremiah 29:11

Thankful Day 6 & Thursdays Ten

I think I missed a day for my Thankful list...but I believe this one is great enough to cover two days also. I have also added my Thursday's Ten here. You can do your Thursday's Ten by visiting Lora over at Take Me the Way I Am






♥Thankful Day 6 and/or 7, also, Thursday's Ten #1
I am thankful, oh so thankful to the brave men and women who serve our country every single day and night; putting themselves in harms way and risking their lives, preparing to make the ultimate sacrifice if we, the American people need that sacrifice. I am warm in my bed each night and safe due to the work of these wonderful, amazing people. I cannot stress how thankful I am to the military for the immense list of jobs they must do and the danger they see just so I can enjoy the simplest of things in my life. A great big THANK YOU to those that are serving today away from their loved ones.
♥my family and close friends. they have always been here for me. always supported me. i can call on them anytime.
♥the material things that make my life easy and fun. electronics, books, crafting & scrapbooking, facebook, my camera. these things give me a way to cope with the more difficult things in life. they calm me. when life gives me a bad day i can use these things to leave the stress and rough day behind.
♥teachers. they have a difficult job. i don't think much more needs to be said about them. they're wonderful! :)
♥doctors, nurses, emts/paramedics. again, I don't think they need much explanation. they work strenuous hours all in the hope that they can cure, help and give hope to one patient.
♥necessities...all the things a family needs to function easily and properly. shoes, clothes, shampoo, soap, toilet paper, hygiene products. we all know why we appreciate them!
♥stability (my husbands job). we've been  in so many places with so little money. we are now where we want to be and are finally starting to feel stabilization. it feels so nice!
♥my wonderful, trusting, almighty God. he never fails, follows through with what he promises and loves and forgives more than any one person can or is willing to do.
♥health. both of myself and my husband and kids. we may not be in perfect shape but all in all, we are healthy.
♥the wonderful, yummy, yummy food that i just ate. :) Mmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm!


I hope everyone has a very enjoyable and safe Thanksgiving! If you are traveling, stay safe on the roads or in the air...however you may be traveling!! God Bless!!