The Spirit of a Quitter

About a year or so ago I was at church when our pastor and assistant pastor were laying hands on people and praying and prophesying over them. When it came my turn, the assistant pastor put his hands on my forehead and prayed a great prayer and spoke some fantastic words about our family. Then he took me by complete surprise when he said that he "breaks the spirit of a quitter off of me". What? ME, a quitter? And then it began. The deep reflections of my life and the realization of all the things I have quit doing, much of it long before God was calling me to quit.

• I quit college my senior year. Looking back, I really wish I had just pushed through those last few months. MONTHS! That's all I had left, and I quit.

• I quit a business that was growing great and had such awesome potential. Now, this one I really think God was leading me to quit, but sometimes I still question whether it was His will or mine. Sometimes I miss it, but it was really stressful at times.

• I've quit my dieting and exercise plans numerous times. Never got anywhere with that. Once again I'm trying to lose weight.

• At this very moment I want to stop homeschool because I feel like my husband would be so much better at it than me. I'm so frustrated. I can't even pronounce things right. He's a genius!

•  I stopped singing. This isn't good because one of my life goals was to become a famous singer. I used to sing on the praise and worship team, but then I had a baby and I'm having trouble making it to church on time. At least that's my excuse for now.

•  I've tried babysitting several times and it never worked out. 

Okay, I could honestly go on and on, but all that would do is drag me down. So I'll stop right here and give you and me some encouragement to keep moving forward. Don't give up.

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT QUITTING?

My favorite verse to keep me going through tough times (or even just when I'm feeling lazy) is this:   

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

 This verse helps me when I feel like I'm facing a mountain. I actually tried meditating on it when I was in labor with our last child. It has really brought me through some tough times.

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24

 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:13

 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

For with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37

I REALLY wanted to just stop blogging during this post because my computer is running so slow that it's driving me bonkers! But look, I persevered and YOU CAN TOO! Whatever it is you are facing, no matter how big or small, just KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.  

DON'T QUIT!!!

Be blessed my friends!

A Dream With A Warning

Last night I had a lot of dreams, but one dream really stood out to me. I woke up and immediately began contemplating the meaning because it seemed so bizarre. Here is the dream:

I was living on a farm (but not the one I grew up on). My dad was loading rabbits in an enclosed trailer to haul them off to the butcher. How strange! I walked over to the trailer where he was and he said that I might want to go away while he took care of this. I knew immediately what he was talking about, so I quickly walked away with one of the rabbits in my arms that I intended on saving. As I was walking away, my dad broke another rabbit's neck to kill it. 

I walked inside the house and suddenly my rabbit was a sheep. I was petting it when all of the sudden it clamped down on my finger and wouldn't let go. Wow that hurt so bad! 

At some point in my dream, someone told me about a couple of people who used to go to our church and they said that they were better off than us because they only had one or two sheep.

Now I'm awake, lying there in bed thinking, "What in the world"? God immediately spoke this to my heart, "Wolves come in sheep clothing. You are holding on to something that seems like a good thing, but it's not".

I've been praying all day to understand this dream better. I know God is trying to warn me about something, but I'm clueless as to what it may be. Any thoughts? Does God often speak to you in dreams? 

Be blessed my friends!

14 Days of Homeschool

INDOOR FISHING

Each day I read a devotional story to my little Stinky Face and then there is an activity to do on the next page. Today's story was about being prepared for when Jesus comes again. I have to admit that I was kind of shocked by this lesson. I've never told my 5 year old that Jesus is coming back some day. The more I thought this over, the more thankful I became of this devotional lesson. It is something that we should be teaching our children, because it is a part of God's Word. 

It used a story of a little boy who wanted to play and eat until the very last minute, when his dad had told him to be out in the van, ready to go to preschool. This lesson taught my son that the little boy wanted to do other things first and put off getting ready. In the same way, many people put off getting ready for when Jesus comes. We need to be living our lives the way Jesus wants us to so that we'll be ready when He comes again no matter when that is.

Then it was time for our activity. The directions said that this is an activity that we need to be ready for before we could start. We had to gather all of our materials and then construct a fishing pole and some fish. My son had a blast! I drew a couple of fish for him and then he did the rest of the drawings and cutting them out all on his own. Then we put paper clips on them.

Then it was time to make the "fishing pole". All I did was tie some string around the end of a yard stick and tie it in a knot. Then we took two magnetic rocks that we had and clipped them onto the end of the string. 

 

















Now we were ready to go fishing. When the hook (magnet) of the fishing pole touched the mouth (paper clip) of the fish, he caught fish! He thought it was so awesome and really enjoyed it when he caught more than one at a time.

A LESSON FROM HANNAH

I'm now in the book of 1 Samuel and I just read about how Hannah was mistreated by her husband's other wife, Peninnah. You see, Hannah was barren and in the Old Testament times, that was a disgrace. Peninnah who had sons and daughters, made Hannah miserable, provoking her to the point of grief and pain. Yet in the midst of Hannah's suffering, she became a woman of prayer and praise. When the situation was unbearable, Hannah turned in prayer to God, not to someone or something else. In spite of her bitterness, Hannah in fervent prayer focused on the Person of God as Lord of the hosts of heaven and earth.

Wow! Isn't it funny how God puts a word right out in front of your face when  you need it the most? You see, lately I've been dealing (once again) with looking to other people and other things to make me happy. Oh how I struggle in that area. I know it's wrong and I also know that the Lord wants me to rely on Him for all things. I'm a very sensitive person who desires strong friendships. While being sensitive can be a good quality, lately it's been getting me into trouble. I'm easily hurt when other people seem to have forgotten about me. I'm easily hurt when someone says they will call and then they don't. I get angry when I see my friends posting pictures on Facebook of them hanging out with other friends. Why? Because I'm jealous. Don't tell me you've never been there before. We all struggle with something and it seems like as soon as I conquer one mountain, another one pops up right in front of me.

 But God has a reason for the mountains. He wants us to never forget that we are to depend on Him. Just like Hannah, we need to turn to Him in fervent prayer and focus on Him, not the mountains. As we do this, the mountains shrink. As I do this (along with changing my settings on Facebook so that I don't see as much as I used to), my mountain has become a hill. I am drawing closer to God, just the way He intended. And I know that He will bless my efforts, just like He did for Hannah.He blessed her with children! She dedicated her first son, Samuel, to God. She then went on to have three sons and two daughters.

So what are you struggling with today? Poverty? Loneliness? Depression? Jealousy? Guilt? Anger? No matter what it is, God wants you to take your focus off of the problem. Don't go to someone else looking for the answers. Go to His Word! Go to Him in prayer! Maybe you need to take a break from Facebook or other social media. Maybe you need to spend some time away from others to get alone with God. He's calling you back to Him. He has all the answers you'll ever need. You just have to go to him and ask. Then trust Him. Be patient. He will work it all out. Keep your eyes on Him. Your breakthrough (and mine) are just around the corner!!!

Be blessed my friends!

Thanksgiving Day Crafts

My oldest son felt like he was too old to make a turkey out of his handprints, so instead he made a dog. He did use his hand though to outline the dog's head. Here is what he said he is thankful for: 

My family, my friends, food on the table, a good house, the good people in te world pets the world's beauty, music, power, that Jesus died for us, games, fun that dogs don't die on Thanksgiving.

This is the turkey that I helped Stinky Face make. We first traced two circles. I used a cd case for the bigger circle and an actual cd for the smaller circle. Then we traced his hands to use as the feathers. My oldest son came up with the idea of adding the hat and I really liked it, so we cut that out and glued it on. It was a very simple, yet fun thing to do with the kids. Our neighbors came over and made their own turkeys too.

Be blessed my friends!

Thanksgiving 2013

I love this picture that my oldest son took of me, him, and the baby. This was taken on Thanksgiving Day. We were all dressed up to go have dinner at Cracker Barrel. This has become our family tradition for Thanksgiving because our relatives don't live nearby and my husband has to get up very early to go to work the next day for Black Friday. I really miss our big family gatherings that we used to have, but I love making new traditions for the 5 of us, and not having to cook for hours or have any dishes to clean up is a huge bonus! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Be blessed my friends!

RUTH AND NAOMI

I've been studying the book of Ruth and want to share with you what I've discovered. Did you know that there are similarities between Ruth and The Virtuous Woman from Proverbs 31?
                                   
                                                                          Reference in Ruth             Reference in Proverbs

• Her family commitment is noted by others.        2:11, 12                        31:11, 12
• She provided sustenance for her household.      2:14, 18                       31:15
• She gave attention to her appearance.               3:3, 5                           31:22
• Her selfless lifestyle drew praise from others.     2:11; 3:10; 4:15            31:28
• She committed herself to Yahweh as God.         1:16                             31:30

Here are some other key points that really stood out to me today:

Commitment is the foundation for every relationship, whether earthly or heavenly.

Ruth willingly accepted an unsettled future and bound herself by solemn oath not only to Naomi but also to the God of Israel. I think of all that Ruth left behind; her family, her home, friendships, her entire life as she knew it. It makes me think of my own life, how God called us to another state and we obeyed His voice. We didn't understand His plans at the time, but through our obedience, we have been so blessed by God. He gave us many new friends and we found out which of the people in our old state were in our lives for the long haul. It also brought me and my family closer together. Instead of stopping by for just a few minutes on their way home, now my parents come to visit and we fully cherish every single second we have together. We talk more and take lots of pictures. When we lived only a mile from them, it's like we just took our lives together for granted. 

Don't take your precious time together for granted!

Who are your true friends? They are the ones who are committed! They don't turn their backs on you and forget about you when you move away. They check in on your when they know you are feeling down or are sick. They make time for you! Sure, everyone is busy, but if someone tells you that they won't have time for you for a few months, you should probably re-evaluate that friendship. I've had to do this recently and it's a very painful experience, but what's even more painful is trying to hold on to a one-sided relationship. I'm not saying that you don't continue to reach out to that person and love on them, but make sure you are spending the bulk of your time on the ones who make the time for you.

Naomi

A couple of things stood out to me about Naomi, Ruth's Mother-in-Law.

1. Naomi models the way God works through a woman who moves forward, even in the midst of tragedy and trial, actively seizing every opportunity God provides rather than waiting passively for events to happen.
2. By focusing on the negative, Naomi became so bitter (Ruth 1:20) that she could not see the good and positive plans God was working on. 

Of course these two things happened at two different parts of Naomi's journey. The first one just made me think about what I would do if I lost my husband. I know I would be devastated and I just can't imagine trying to continue on with life as normal. She made the best of her situation and returned to God. She was such a role model for Ruth.

In the second example, Naomi just didn't feel worthy to be called Naomi, which means Pleasant. She felt like her suffering was God's punishment for her own sins. Do you ever feel like that? I know I sure have! So many times when I begged God for something and didn't see it manifest, or when I've had to deal with any other kind of suffering or tragedy, I would think God was mad at me and I deserved whatever happened. But that's not who God is! He's a God of mercy and grace. He loved us before we even knew Him. He doesn't sit around waiting to punish us. No, He's our daddy! He wants to give us His best. But first, we have to believe that! Yes, you may reap what you sow, but if you realize that you have done wrong, ask Him for forgiveness. He will cast your sins as far as the east is to the west.

I hope you have enjoyed this post. I hope to share more with you about whatever I am reading each morning so that you may be blessed by it too!

Be blessed my friends!

I LOVE WATCHING HIM GROW

Baby Boy at Six Months

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I can't believe that you are already a half a year old.  You have brought such joy into our lives. You are mostly a happy baby. You usually only fuss if you are very tired or hungry.  You started crawling at just 5 1/2 months. You still do the army crawl though,  not yet crawling on all fours. You will get wherever you want to go by either crawling or rolling.  You love being down on the floor to explore. You usually take a nice, long nap in the afternoon. This has been such a blessing to me because it allows me to spend that time homeschooling your brothers. You currently weigh about 15.4 pounds.  You are showing more interest in eating more food. I was just feeding you a small jar or two of food each day, but I think I need to start giving you food with each bottle.  As always, I love you with all my heart and I'm thoroughly enjoying watching you grow up!

Stinky Face's New Style

As afraid as I was, I cut my little Stinky Face's hair. He had such beautiful hair, but combined with his long, pretty eyelashes, he could've easily been mistaken for a girl. I was also getting a little tired of his older brother harassing him. Stinky Face said he was ready for a short cut. I have cut my boy's hair off and on over the years, but this was a major change so I was extremely nervous. Honestly I lacked the confidence on the inside, but just faked it on the outside. Little by little, the hair fell to the floor (and on him and the chair). What a mess we made! It took some serious getting used to and at first I really didn't like it, but now I love it. He looks like a totally different kid. I'm trying to take on a completely new attitude about things too. It's just hair! It will grow back if I really don't like it. So what do you think about it? Should I keep on cutting my boy's hair and saving that money, or should I take them to a professional next time? 

BEFORE

AFTER

Be blessed my friends!

My Favorite Part of the Day

Today was freezing cold. I think it only got up to around 35 degrees outside. I was really dreading having to leave the house, but I just HAD to get groceries. The kids did a little bit of schoolwork, I got myself ready, then got Stinky Face ready, and finally gave the baby a bath and got him ready. It was going on noon and we hadn't had anything to eat yet, so I decided that we would have lunch together. We went to one of my favorite restaurants, Raising Canes. They have really yummy chicken, fries, and Texas toast, and the best sauce to dip it in.

Sitting there in the restaurant with my 3 boys was absolutely my favorite part of the day. It was worth the effort to get them all ready and go out into the freezing cold. I still spent way too much money at the store, but now hopefully I won't have to go out again for quite some time.

Be blessed my friends!