How to Build Trust

Obviously this dog has been being a bride to this kitty or there is no way this kitty would let this GREAT BIG DOG this close! A lesson in trust:) Enjoy.

A Heart Wrencher for Pet Lovers

My husband and I had to say goodbye to our sweet dog Sadie yesterday.  We found out about a month ago that she had cancer and the vet gave her 1-2 months to live...we got a great month.  I never would have thought that the Lord could use an animal to speak to our hearts, but it became more and more obvious in more ways than one that this was a very logical way for Him to speak to me and us. 

Isn't God's timing unbelievable!  God knew that we needed to reach deeper conversations and feelings before we completed our adoption applications.  He sure made it happen and I don't believe it would have been possible without this tragedy in our lives.  For those of you who know me intimately, know how I have longed for children for some time...those same people also know that Sadie was my first little girl, I took her everywhere a mother would take her children.  It didn't matter if I was going to run to the grocery store and be gone 15 minutes or I was going to travel for several days, Sadie was by my side.  She was such a beautiful example of what we now know, we will be capable of, with human children.  Also, since Sadie only lived 1/2 the life we would have expected a healthy dog to live, we also look at precious life in a different way...knowing that we don't know, only God knows how much time we have or that we have certain people in our lives.  We need to live life to the fullest!  There's a song that says, "Today is a gift that you've been given, live the most of your life every minute you're in it!"

So the verse this time is an amazing passage that came to me the day I learned about Sadie's illness (John 16:20-24).  The Lord gave me this precious dog and now he is taking her away from me, but I will soon have those children I have been longing for and begging him for for so long.  It's another season in our lives of the Lord giving and taking away.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families~may we be thankful for every precious life that we are able to touch and have touch ours~enjoy a time of fellowship this Thursday!

Submission is KEY, Whether We Like It or Not:)

I have a friend who it has been so BEAUTIFUL to see her transform into such a wonderful BRIDE to her husband. The Lord confirmed His love for her the other day through her husband when He used her husband to tell her...I would never be able to stay home and do what you do, I'm so glad you have chosen to stay at home and be there for our kids! This melted her and it was so sweet to listen to her share it with me:) Thank you Lord for an honest husband that is not afraid to tell his wife how much he appreciates her!

The best part about this is that I remember when they got married, my friend said what is this "Submit to your husband business?" Ephesians 5. And now that she has experienced her awesome husband submitting to the Lord and unknowingly her submitting to her husband, she has experienced the awesome feeling of this "Submitting to your husband business!" What a precious example she has been to her husband, friends, family and now her children...so precious.

I too, have learned how beautiful submission can be with an obvious example recently! I have worked in the Fair Industry for over 10 years now and three of the last five years of our marriage have endured my patient husband at home alone while I'm working away for weeks at a time (one year for months at a time). I love this industry and have had a very hard time distancing myself from it, but during these three years I have always wanted to start a family...which beings I want to be a stay-at-home Mom, you can see how this lifestyle won't work! So, my husband asked me to not spend more than two days away at any given time this next year, which means "Oh brother, I have to turn down three of my best and most loyal clients who have become my friends AND have Faith that the Lord will provide financially somehow someway." I did it, well, the Lord did it because there is NO WAY, I would have been able to call these people alone and every one of them have been so understanding and encouraging!!! Thank you Lord, and the best is yet to come...My husband is ready to look at "this family stuff" now:) My on-going prayers were answered simply by me submitting to my husband. Psalm 37:3-7...hmmm, this just might be my NEW life passage, what a beautiful passage!

It's Only about YOU and HIM!

It's all about YOU, Jesus..And all this is for you...for your glory and your fame...it's not about ME or that You should do things MY way...You alone are God and you are worthy...to be praised! I so often wish I had a better voice because music sounds SO good in my head, especially when it's worship songs! This one came to mind, so I thought I'd just go with it:)

Well, I noticed a pattern today and whenever I notice a pattern of the same topic coming up over and over, I know there must be many more who need to hear it so let me share about a recent and consistent topic of conversation these last couple weeks for me. It's ALL ABOUT YOU AND HIM!

As much as every single one of us would LOVE to have that PERFECT spiritual relationship with the man we call our husband, it does not exist for many of us, at least not to the levels of what we think of as PERFECT. It is then that we need to remind ourselves that it's not about having that perfect relationship here on Earth, it's about our relationship with the Lord individually that needs to be focused on. Just focus on your OWN relationship with your Lord and let your husband focus on his OWN relationship with his Lord. Once you both are spiritually ready, the Lord will bring you together for what is more beautiful than what you imagine right now (this could be 6 mths or 6 years down the road). Let God do the work, quit trying to make it perfect for Him because it won't be...until He has you just where He wants you AND your husband. Work on yourself!

Forcing a spiritual relationship can sometimes feel similar to being unequally yoked: 2 Corinthians 6:14. Even though both of you might be Christian, you might not be spiritually mature enough to share with each other as God has designed it for us to enjoy. Be Patient in this because it's a long journey, but I'm seeing it be more and more worth it every day. Let's take baby steps and we'll get there. I'd like to dedicate this blog post to my Mom and Grammie for their witness throughout my life of how to build an independent relationship with God FIRST and FOREMOST because it's all about ME and HIM! I love you both so very much and thank you for showing me this most precious piece to life everlasting!

Why would anyone look at the glass half empty?

I have been wanting to share something for a few months, but have been scared too. BUT that's what I want this Blog to be about, is helping each other on the things that really ARE tough. Even though I have God in my life everything isn't easy, BUT how can I look at a glass half empty when I know that God WILL take care of me...and now when I look back at the last several months, it is all the more encouraging how much He carried me!

I have been able to share with two marriages what I am going to share with hopefully many many more now as I write this and please pass it along to all you know because it seems to hit me every time I say it, just how important it is to remember. When my husband and I got married, we agreed that we would NEVER mention divorce and so we never really ever even think that way, let alone say it. Well, we had some rough times these past 6 months and I never thought my marriage would get to that point so it was then that I had to make the decision so that I WOULD NOT think that way anymore. It was like I had to renew my vow to myself. My choices were 1) Do you want to stay with this man no matter what? If yes, then you must continue trudging forward and never look back, working every situation through and continue living according to the promise we made when we married, Divorce is NOT an option. 2) Do you want to keep letting yourself get SO angry every time we hit a rough spot and let my mind get to the point of hurt and sorrow that it was at? If so, then you will not be happy and you are not living as God would want you to live with this husband of yours.

If you would simply love your husband the right way and look at the situations/confrontations the right way, ALL will be at peace. Thankfully I chose option 1 and I am so blessed that I did. I'm not saying it was easy from that day forward, but it really was because I chose not to look back, I made a decision to live a certain way and without God, it would NOT have been possible. I looked at the Glass Half Full and it was way more than half full when I relied on God and now when I look back, that's what got me through without a doubt! Thank you Lord for saving me, what can I say, You are my Everything, I will sing Your praise! Great are You Lord, Your truth has set me FREE! Revelations 21:2-4

Good Viral Forwarding:) I PROMISE!

I received this in an Email today and couldn't help, but share it with you all!

Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.
Look around and serve God.
Look within and find God!

God closes doors no man can open.
God opens doors no man can close.

"God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...." -Psalms 73:26