Conviction, Discovery and War

Wow.  I just have to start off by saying wow.  What an amazing bible study this morning.  Last week was so great because it was bringing to light so many things in my life that I had done, that I hadn't really realized until now.  It was a little convicting.  Today I felt was even more convicting than last week.  There were questions that were being asked that were so deep..and when I answered them, I had to sit back and really say, 'oh my goodness, I was really doing that?'  It's amazing how much you discover about yourself when you are brutally honest, and don't try to keep things in the dark.  I mean, God knows all, there is no reason that we need to hold these things in and keep them from ourselves.  What is that going to accomplish?
One section was discussing the four principles for reconciling with God. They went like this:
1.acknowledge our sin
2.accept God's discipline
3.ask for forgiveness
4.act on God's direction
Then Priscilla asks "which of the four principles do you find most difficult?"
I know that I am very stubborn when it comes to wanting to admit that I am doing, or have done something wrong.  It is only long after the discipline has happened that I accept it.  Why are we wired this way? Or at least, why am I wired this way?
At the end of the study, Priscilla asks another question, "recall a time when your return to fellowship with God was spurred on by internal conviction through God's Word....How were you compelled to obedience?"  Honestly, when I started this bible study, that is when I felt compelled to obedience.  I wasn't running as far away from God as I usually do, but still, I was keeping a short distance between myself and the LORD.  I knew that when I came to this study, the first night, that God had planned to use this time to reveal to me all the things I had been doing, .  He wanted to show me where the path was going to lead me, and where I needed to be going.  After I answered that, I read the paragraph below it, the part that really stuck out to me was this: "Our Journey back to the LORD begins when we take time to consider and accept the conviction He uses to stir us and awaken us to the new direction He wants for us."  OMGosh...was that not God telling how to answer the previous question?  When I read the portion I just mentioned, I wrote down in my margin, 'that is exactly what I said...and I didn't even read that part yet...God is great!!!'
I have been so moved by this study.  But during the last week, I have felt a very intense game of tug-o-war going on with my spirit.  Every time I feel the LORD stirring in my heart, and my fire is being ignited in such a way that I feel that nothing can put it out, the enemy sneaks right up on me and starts bringing buckets of water to my fire.  He would never be able to extinguish it completely, but a it's really hard to keep it burning even with a gallon or two of water thrown on it.   At least, it's impossible to do it by yourself.  I have been praying and begging God to help me on the front lines.  I know that everyone is going through these battles constantly, and we all need constant prayer.  I will be praying for all of us, that God will remain triumphant, (and we all know He will) and that we keep our eyes turned upwards, and our hearts wide open.
I pray that your day, and this coming week would be blessed, and I can't wait to get together next week!
Prayer and blessing over all of you!

Busy Day

 Yesterday was a pretty fun day.  My wonderful husband decided to suprise our family with an afternoon at the coast.  We drove over there, just for a few hours.  We had lunch at Moe's, (I had the Slumgullion...MMMMMMM yumm-o!) Then took Sky to Aunt Belindas Candy shop.  He was sooooo overwhelmed by all the candy, but we made out of there without a temper-tantrum!  Praise God!  It was a very sweet afternoon with my family!

Later on in the evening, Skyler had done some serious damage to the top of the dining room table.  So Tom, decided to jet strait over to Home Depot, buy a sander, and some wood stain.( Now he had an exscuse to buy a new tool!) 

Well the project started....IN MY DINING ROOM!  Im talkin wood shavings EVERYWHERE!  It took about one hour to sand down the table.  Now, if you can imagine, sanding, for one hour, in a 630 sq. ft. apartment.  The dust was unbearable.  I was not the least bit pleased.  Now, after that was finished, he continued to stain the table.  Stain was flying everywhere, Skyler was running around like a wild animal, and I was furious.

We got through the project..only because of Gods Grace....and you know what?  The table almost looks better than before, and Tom was so sweet in appologizing to me this morning for making our evening last night so chaotic.  I love him.I am still learning that Tom is a unique person, and that he has unique way of doing things. We were deffinatly created spefically for each other!

Great Way to Plan your Dinner Menu, and Grocery Shop

In the past, I will admit that I have MAJOR issues when it comes to grocery shopping.  I had no idea how to plan a dinner menu, or how to select groceries.  I came accross a web site that is a HUGE help.   They have regular menus, and a healthy menu you can choose from.  They email you the menu and shopping list by 10am every Friday.  I have found that it has been very helpful, and I stay within my budget for shopping, and that is with extras that aren't on their provided shopping list.  Oh, and not to mention., in the past I struck out about 4 out of 5 dinners a week with Tom, and with these menus, it has been a home run every single night!!!  It makes me feel great as a wife, to be able to please my husband with good food. (Cause we all know the way to mans heart is through his stomach right??)
So here are links to the recipes.  You normally have to pay for this subscription, but since I already paid, I will share my weekly recipes and shopping list with you.  Pick a week, or mix and match recipes.  There are normal recipes, and healthier alternatives.  Check 'em out!
http://www.dinnerplanner.com/menu_1304.htm

http://www.dinnerplanner.com/healthy_2.htm

http://www.dinnerplanner.com/menu01404.htm

http://www.dinnerplanner.com/healthy_210.htm

http://www.dinnerplanner.com/menu_1405.htm

http://www.dinnerplanner.com/healthy-220.htm

Good Times Now, and to Come

Lately things have been going so well.  Tom is working like crazy, praise the LORD, and we are goin to be moving in a week and a half, to Lebabnon.  We found a 3 bedroom house out there, and it is about 700-800 sq. ft. bigger than our current residence.  Usually when Tom and I move, we want to do it right away, and we do.  This time it is a little different.  We thought we were getting the keys last weekend, turns out the place wasn't ready yet, so the landlord said that we can get the keys on the 28th.  I know that God is trying to teach us patience through this, which is something we really need to learn.
Speaking of learning, I have started an amazing bible study by Priscilla Shirer.  It's on the book of Jonah, which most of all know the part of the story about the whale, but in this study, Priscilla is teaching us that there is soooo much more to the story than the whale.  It is about God interviening in our lives.  We look at it as an 'interuption', but really, when it's God, it is really a Divine Intervention.  I can specifically think of one time in my life where I thought my life was being interupted in a way I never thought possible.  Almost three years ago, when I left Tom, and he was arrested for selling drugs, and I was arrested (first time in my life,) and our oldest son Skyler was taken from me and put in a foster home.  My life fell apart.  How could this happen to me?  Why was my life being destroyed?  Little did I know, and come to think of it, I just figured it out....It was a Divine Intervention.  God had interviened in my life because of the path that I was going down.  There was no way on this earth that I would have ever acredited these events to God's inner-workings.  At first I didnt even want to think of God, (I had not been saved yet) and then, after some time,I realized that I had been wasting my life.  A life without God is a waste.  At the time though, I didnt care, and the thought of even going to church was just revolting.  After much resistence, Tom had convinced me to go to church, and the first two weeks were torture.  I said I am never going back ever again, (although I had already been twice) and wouldn't you know it, I went back for a third week.  Pastor Rob Verdine was talking about falling away from the LORD, and how it isn't too late to ask Him to take you back.  I thought to myself, 'I needed to hear this, this was meant for me.'  So when he asked for anyone who wanted to accept Christ into their hearts, to just lift up their hand, and would pray for you...I raised my hand.  I asked the LORD to forgive me for turning my back on Him, for being this shell of a person that I had become, to take me back and love me.  I aknoledged Jesus Christ as my LORD and Savior.  Right then I knew that it was alright for once.
Tom and I had regained legal custody of our son, and have hit LOTS  of speed-bumps along the way, but through it all, I know that God is there, and He has a purpose for these things.  Maybe someday Tom and I will be a part of ministry, maybe God will present us with many opportunities to share our testimonies to people who are where we were only three short years ago.  My whole point of sharing this is that God had Divinely Interviened for a greater purpose.  Something that will allow us to make a mark on this world, and in our lives and hopefully the lives of others.
I pray that if you do not know the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior, or are struggling with your faith, or are just hurting, maybe God is 'interupting' your life, know that He does it because He loves you, and He has a greater purpose for you.
Heavnly Father, I want to ask you to comfort those who need your presence.  Meet them LORD, let them know that you are near to them and that you love them.  You are a merciful God, who knows what we need when we need it.  Lift us up Father, teach us to be strong and to lean on you.  Help us to see you LORD.  Show us how to be submissive to you and to what you are doing in our lives.  We love you Father.  Guide us and give us hope.  We pray these things in your Holy and precious name, Amen.