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Monday, August 25, 2008

God's Classroom

I was thinking the other day how unprepared I was for life's seemingly big trials. (my trials have been small in comparison to so many other Christians). My childhood was idyllic and I often refer to growing up in "Ozzie and Harriet's" home. My parents loved each other and loved us. My sister and I never wanted for anything financially or emotionally. We were protected and loved.

Now that I've entered my 'twilight years' I'm finding that life's trials seem to be increasing. My childhood did not prepare me for these trials but as I look back through my Christian walk I can see that God has used the common day trials as building blocks to prepare me for what would lie ahead. I've been in 'God's Classroom' and He has proven to be such a wise and loving teacher.

The past two years my husband and I have faced situations that have tested our faith. Daddy left for heaven (resulting in the first loss of one of our biological parents), one of our truck drivers ran over a young homeschooling mother and killed her as her 10 year old daughter watched from the sidewalk, our daughter in love was hospitalized for pneumonia for nearly a month and we feared losing her, our business suffered financial loss and we were forced to let our employees go and sell off most of our equipment along with 3 escrows on our home falling through over a two year period. (*see note below) God used so many things He has taught us over the past years of our Christian walk to help us get through each of these trials.

God's Word has many things to say about trials and our response to them.

- We're to count it PURE JOY when we face them.

- We will face trials of many kinds.

- They will build endurance, patience.

- They will only last for a little while.

- They help to mature us.

- We need to ask for wisdom in our trials and believe He will give it.

- Trials help to prove that our faith is genuine.

His Word promises to use everything in our lives to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:28-29) I'm sure we will never know all the ways these trials have been used to grow us in our walk of faith but I do know that we have learned to trust Him for a future that can oftentimes seem so very uncertain and even frightening at times. I wish I could say that my husband and I never questioned God or complained during the past two years. We did! But, thankfully the Lord promises to work even our failings together for our good and His glory.

Thankfully, I don't know what the coming years hold for my family but my hope has been renewed that God is using the trials of TODAY to PREPARE US for the unknown trials of TOMORROW.

Thank you, again, to all our prayed for us.

For You, Oh God, have proved us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich FULFILLMENT. Psalm 66:10-12

In this you greatly rejoice, though for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Cosider it PURE JOY, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of you faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature, complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

* I do not want to only share our trials without telling you that God has provided for us through each of our losses beyond what we could have ever imagined! To HIM be all glory forever and forever!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

It's official!

WE'RE MOVING!

It's official!

Our house has sold and we are moving to our new home on Tuesday. I really want to thank all of you who have prayed. We're in high gear over here getting everything ready. We had help today to most of the boxes into the UHaul. The rest of the move will start on Tuesday.

Thank you for all your prayers!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Frugal Friday

I'm 51 years old and if there is one thing I've learned it's that a daughter is never too old to learn from her mother!

It's been nearly 2 years (in October) since Daddy left for heaven. My mother had many things to learn since Daddy took care of all business matters plus the maintenance of the house. My mother jumped right in and did her best to learn everything she could so that she could be independent. One thing that amazed me was her determination to fix things on her own before she called a repair man.

So, this is what Mama taught me. SAVE & READ your OWNER'S MANUAL!.

This week I was having problems with my vacuum cleaner. The self-propelled feature wasn't working. I thought possibly I could vacuum anyway but it was nearly impossible to move it. I had the same problem several years ago and ended up taking it to a repair shop which cost me quite a bit.

I remembered Mama's example and went to find the owner's manual which I had thankfully filed away and was able to find (in spite of our life being in boxes from the move). Normally there is a 'problem' area in the manuals which give you a solution. The manual suggested checking a belt that was located under the vacuum cleaner. Once I took off the bottom panel I was able to see that the belt was indeed broken. A quick trip to town with a $4.00 purchase for the belt solved the problem.

Mama would be so proud!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Titus 2 Tuesday

Our visiting pastor on Sunday made a statement that resonated blissfully within my soul. He said, "the highest honor we can receive on this earth is to do what God has called us to do".

I've been thinking a lot about what he said. You know.. it's so very true. What greater honor is there on this earth than to obey God's Word and thereby bring Him glory by living it out in our lives. Titus 2 instructs the older women to teach the younger women what will bring glory to God so that they will not blaspheme the Word of God.

So, my heart is again brought back to His Word.. searching His truths to remind myself how I can bring Him glory. You would think that after all these years of studying what God commands for a godly woman that I would have it cemented into my thought life. Much of it is.. but I find that the agenda of this present world is continually and subtly chipping away at it. It does my soul good to remind myself of these truths on a continual basis.

God's Word says I am to:

... love my husband (Titus 2:4)

... love my children (Titus 2:4)

.. be a keeper (guard) at home (Titus 2:5)

... be subject to my husband (Titus 2:5)

... be hospitable (1 Timothy 5:10)

... be known for good deeds (1 Timothy 5:10)

... teach the younger women the list of things taught in Titus 2

... help widows in my family (1 Tim. 5:16)

... help those in trouble (1 Tim. 5:10)

... use my gifts in the local church (Eph. 4:11-14)

The list seems inexhaustible!!!

I was reminded the other day about a bible study for women I went to over 10 years ago. The pastors wife encouraged us to keep a notebook and in that notebook she taught us how to write our 'mission statement' as Christian women. It was to be solely written from scripture and was to become our 'marching orders from the Lord' for the coming year. We took specific commands from God's Word (like the ones above) and then wrote them into our own personal goals for the coming year. It was quite powerful!

'Mission statements' are quite common in large corporations to help them stay on track. I think it's a very helpful tool to help a godly woman keep focused on God's calling for her life.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Frugal Friday

My FRUGAL FRIDAY tip for the day is to save the comics from the newspaper to use as children's wrapping paper.

I used to order the newspaper just on the weekends for the coupons and ads. It cost me $20.00 for the entire year and I received it on Fri, Sat. and Sun. I cancelled it at the beginning of the year because I didn't have time to read it and I wasn't using many of the coupons. I'm considering ordering it again since I'm learning about couponing through Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy where you can end up with free products.

One thing I did save when I recieved my Sunday paper was the comic strips. I used them for children's wrapping paper. It really makes for a cute package. I would use the colorful ribbon on a spool that you can purchase at the dollar store to tie around the package with a matching bow on top.

It makes for a colorful package from an item that is normally thrown away! I like that idea!

*~*~*

Moving Update: The loan docs didn't come in yesterday for the sale of our house but are expected today. But, we did sign on the papers for the house we are moving in to. So, it looks like we won't be moving this weekend but mostly likely will be moving on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. I still am finding things I can do around the home to make the move easier on my husband. I noticed there are mirrors on the dressers that need to be removed and padded with newspaper so they won't break during the move. I'm also trying to clean everything I can now so that I won't have as much to do after the move.. (ceiling fans, mini-blinds,cobwebs, etc.) So, please continue to keep us in your prayers. We're not over the hurdle just quite yet but closer than we've ever been.