I fear our bluebird population has taken a reprieve somewhere else for a time...
We have two birdhouses sitting on our back porch. I did not set them there with the thought that a bird would come and make a home in it, I probably did it one day while cleaning for someone to look at the house and I thought, "Decoration for the deck!!" They were birdhouses Levi and Austin had made with Cubscouts and I was hoping to put them up somewhere outside because birds will come to our yard if there is food and a house.
So forgetting I had put those birdhouses there, about a week ago I noticed a number of birds coming up on our deck and remaining there hopping around and playing on the railing. It was so awesome. I kept saying I wonder why the birds are coming up on our deck, and one of my sons finally said, "Mom it's the birdhouses." Well, we went out and looked in the birdhouses and sure enough they were building nests in them. We could stand inside the house and because of the closed window could watch them from 2-3 feet away coming and going bringing grass and straw for their nests, chasing off other birds from their territory... It was just amazing and something we all enjoyed doing.
Last Saturday, though, after we had watched the birds for a while we were all getting started with our day, and I heard a sort of a thump; sounding something like what our cat makes when he bangs into the door or falls from the screen trying to let us know he wants in (something I thought we had broken him of). So I looked through the back door and saw him, and because I did not want him to scare the bluebirds away I quickly opened the door and let him in... but as he came in I noticed he had a bluebird in his mouth (it makes me want to scream just typing about it).
I began to scream for Ken (much like you would if you had seen a mouse and were wanting someone else to come and take care of it) and I kept screaming until Ken came in where I was. He found the cat hiding behind the couch and got Tiger (our cat) to drop the bird. We now have a bird (not sure if it is dead or alive) in our house laying behind the couch. They were right by the front door, so Ken got one of the kids to hold the door open and got something flat to sort of scoop under it and as soon as he did that it the bird sprang to life and flew out the door.
I was very happy to know my cat had not taken the life of one of the beautiful bluebirds we watch every day, but I will say the news must have gotten around the bird kingdom because we have not seen many birds of any kind near our porch and even on our bird feeder in a couple of days. I sure hope in their little minds they will forget what happened and come back, or a new group clueless to "Tiger the bird eating cat" will come back so we can watch them again.
Ah the joys of the "life-cycle" and "survival of the fittest". Maybe I should put a bell around his neck as a sign to the bird kingdom that I'm on their side.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Prayer for Ethan
I have a very special prayer I would like to ask you to join me in tomorrow...
I have a cousin that I love dearly who has a son with Autism. If you don't know anyone who has a child with severe autism, it can be very hard on the family. Robby and Karen are the parents (Robby being my cousin) and Ethan is there precious son. He and my oldest son are only one day apart. They are both 7 years old turning 8 in October. My cousin and his wife have spent many years and alot of money turning over every rock in hopes to help their son get better, if even just a little bit. Also as a child gets older with autism the challenges get greater for the family. But as with every physical ailment we can come to the end of solutions and then have to turn to the Great Physician.
So, if God can raise the dead, why can't he bring healing to this child, if even just a little. Maybe not overnight, maybe slowly, maybe enough so that they would never have to entertain the thought of an institution... but possible. For those of you that have been following our modern day miracle with Tricia & Nate, anything is possible... even today.
Tomorrow they are taking Ethan to be prayed over by the Elders of the church. This will take place 5:00pm Eastern time. So Please join me in prayer for this family and this precious little boy. It's hard for most of us to even begin to understand what they go through day to day without an end in sight... So, I will be praying that they will find hope and healing through this step of faith. I didn't mention, but this is a big step of faith for my cousin.
So...
Father I lift up this family and little boy to you including his older sister who I didn't mention above. You love them and care so much for them. You have allowed this in their life for Your purpose, and you promised not to give us more than we can handle. So please show this family Your grace and mercy. Show them how this situation can be used for your glory. My personal request is that you would heal Ethan completely. That they would be able to hear the words, "I love you mom and dad," from a son who cannot outwardly show his thankfulness for how much his parents do for him. Give Robbie and Karen comfort and wisdom. Heal their hearts where it has broken. Refresh them where the life has exhausted them. Let us see your power tomorrow. You tell us You want to do more than we can even think or imagine... so please let us see You here and now. Thank you for all that You do for us... and for all that You are going to do. We love you Lord...
I have a cousin that I love dearly who has a son with Autism. If you don't know anyone who has a child with severe autism, it can be very hard on the family. Robby and Karen are the parents (Robby being my cousin) and Ethan is there precious son. He and my oldest son are only one day apart. They are both 7 years old turning 8 in October. My cousin and his wife have spent many years and alot of money turning over every rock in hopes to help their son get better, if even just a little bit. Also as a child gets older with autism the challenges get greater for the family. But as with every physical ailment we can come to the end of solutions and then have to turn to the Great Physician.
So, if God can raise the dead, why can't he bring healing to this child, if even just a little. Maybe not overnight, maybe slowly, maybe enough so that they would never have to entertain the thought of an institution... but possible. For those of you that have been following our modern day miracle with Tricia & Nate, anything is possible... even today.
Tomorrow they are taking Ethan to be prayed over by the Elders of the church. This will take place 5:00pm Eastern time. So Please join me in prayer for this family and this precious little boy. It's hard for most of us to even begin to understand what they go through day to day without an end in sight... So, I will be praying that they will find hope and healing through this step of faith. I didn't mention, but this is a big step of faith for my cousin.
So...
Father I lift up this family and little boy to you including his older sister who I didn't mention above. You love them and care so much for them. You have allowed this in their life for Your purpose, and you promised not to give us more than we can handle. So please show this family Your grace and mercy. Show them how this situation can be used for your glory. My personal request is that you would heal Ethan completely. That they would be able to hear the words, "I love you mom and dad," from a son who cannot outwardly show his thankfulness for how much his parents do for him. Give Robbie and Karen comfort and wisdom. Heal their hearts where it has broken. Refresh them where the life has exhausted them. Let us see your power tomorrow. You tell us You want to do more than we can even think or imagine... so please let us see You here and now. Thank you for all that You do for us... and for all that You are going to do. We love you Lord...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Let's have a Party!!
Let's have a party!!... No we have not sold our house yet, but I always love it after someone comes to "see" our house, because it is so clean it feels like a hotel, and I always feel like I need to invite a bunch of friends over and have a big party. I felt like I had run a marathon after cleaning and painting and staining (the deck) and planting and mowing, all while keeping all my kids occupied. But since Ken had been sick, I hadn't told you guys that part, I did it all!!... and I accomplished my goal. I felt like I needed to take a victory lap... actually I think I did, around the house.
It's sad that you go to that much effort and stress for a 15 minute visit. So if any of you are in the neighborhood, please stop in. It probably won't look like this for long... at least until the next family comes to look at our house. :-)
We have had some interested people, one family in particular, maybe not the ones who came yesterday, but I continue to feel confident that God has the people chosen already, it is just not His timing yet. Thanks for praying.
It's sad that you go to that much effort and stress for a 15 minute visit. So if any of you are in the neighborhood, please stop in. It probably won't look like this for long... at least until the next family comes to look at our house. :-)
We have had some interested people, one family in particular, maybe not the ones who came yesterday, but I continue to feel confident that God has the people chosen already, it is just not His timing yet. Thanks for praying.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
House Viewing
Okay today at 6:30pm, or anytime throughout the day everybody needs to be praying. Not that God needs our prayers to act, but sometimes He acts because of our prayers.
I got a little more notice this time, but someone emailed me last week and said they were seriously interested in our house. We emailed back and forth numerous times sending pictures and asking and answering questions. Now, I'm not sure why they used the word seriously, because there are a millions of houses on the market right now, and to me there is no reason why our house should stand our any more than any other ones... unless maybe God already spoke to them about this one and He needs to move us on towards the passion HE put in our hearts 5 or 6 years ago (sharing a relevant Christ with the people of Europe).
We have recently come across a church plant, that is just in the process of launching in another part of town. We have been praying about becoming a part of this group and learning and experiencing more of the hands on process of planting another church... and maybe GOD wants to move us closer. We have no idea. All we know is tomorrow is a good day... (except for the frantic cleaning and straightening I will be doing while trying to keep my kids occupied and keeping them from messing up what I have just cleaned)... and God is in control and knows the plan, and IT IS GOOD!
I got a little more notice this time, but someone emailed me last week and said they were seriously interested in our house. We emailed back and forth numerous times sending pictures and asking and answering questions. Now, I'm not sure why they used the word seriously, because there are a millions of houses on the market right now, and to me there is no reason why our house should stand our any more than any other ones... unless maybe God already spoke to them about this one and He needs to move us on towards the passion HE put in our hearts 5 or 6 years ago (sharing a relevant Christ with the people of Europe).
We have recently come across a church plant, that is just in the process of launching in another part of town. We have been praying about becoming a part of this group and learning and experiencing more of the hands on process of planting another church... and maybe GOD wants to move us closer. We have no idea. All we know is tomorrow is a good day... (except for the frantic cleaning and straightening I will be doing while trying to keep my kids occupied and keeping them from messing up what I have just cleaned)... and God is in control and knows the plan, and IT IS GOOD!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Homeschooling... Why I do it...
Homeschooling... Yes I am a homeschooling mom. People do it for so many reasons. I do not think it is the right thing for everybody. The only reason I do it is because God led me. A friend gave me some books that spoke about a philosophy by Charlotte Mason... and because of some different learning styles my oldest son has, this is the main reason I homeschool... and I love it.
Once upon a time, there were two farmers. The first farmer had many acres planted in rows and rows of corn as far as the eye could see. In the springtime, enormous machines would plow the fields, making long, straight lines in the soil. Then other enormous machines would drop in the seeds so that they were all just the right distance apart. The young plants were fertilized in order to grow a tremendous number of the largest, most robust ears of corn you could ever see. Later, large airplanes would dust the corn with poison to kill the insects that might be lurking, waiting to harm the crop. Finally, a tractor would come and cut down the corn while many workers moved quickly to get the harvest loaded onto huge trucks. The farmer was very proud of himself. “This corn will travel all around the world. Look how much man can accomplish in just one season!” he said.
The second farmer did not have many acres planted in rows as far as the eye could see. He only had a small plot in his back yard that was full of all sorts of growing things. He had tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, okra, pumpkins, herbs and flowers, and even a peach tree! This farmer plowed his field himself, so sometimes his furrows were squiggly instead of straight. He planted the seeds himself, so sometimes they were too close together and he had to thin them. When the young plants sprouted, he carefully pulled out any weeds that threatened them. He kept a sharp eye out for harmful insects so that he could prevent infestation. He watered the plants deeply every day, and soon this thriving garden became a joy to his life. At harvest time the farmer made a simple soup and sat down to eat with his family. “Thank you, Father, for what you can accomplish in the fullness of time,” he said.
Educators today face enormous pressure to be like the first farmer. They are to produce results as quickly and efficiently as possible. At the beginning of each school year, they are presented with curriculum standards and scope-and-sequence charts. In many instances they are expected to cover a lesson per day, regardless of whether or not their students have mastered the material. Then, at the end of the year, one test (usually multiple-choice) will tell them, their principals, the students’ parents, and the media how well they did their job. One of the many problems with this all-too-common industrial model of education is that teaching the learner has been overlooked in favor of teaching a curriculum. Let us not forget that education is not a product which can be put together on an assembly line. In the words of Mason, it is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.
Even though the first farmer had the ability to manipulate nature, I do not think anyone reading this blog would argue that food that has been processed or spent weeks ripening on a truck is of better quality than what you grow in your own back yard or pick up at the local farmer’s market. (As a southern girl, I can tell you that the best tomatoes you will ever eat have been left on the vine to ripen in the sun! Yum!) Children, too, are living organisms who will grow on their own time table. Yes, there are things you can do as a teacher to speed things along, but meddle too much and the harvest will not be as sweet. As Mason said, let us allow our students to take from a reading what they are ready to digest. Let them explore their world freely. Let them make connections on their own. Prepare the ground with a loving environment, carefully pull out the weeds by helping with habit formation, let them drink deeply from God’s word, and then leave the rest to the fullness of time.
Once upon a time, there were two farmers. The first farmer had many acres planted in rows and rows of corn as far as the eye could see. In the springtime, enormous machines would plow the fields, making long, straight lines in the soil. Then other enormous machines would drop in the seeds so that they were all just the right distance apart. The young plants were fertilized in order to grow a tremendous number of the largest, most robust ears of corn you could ever see. Later, large airplanes would dust the corn with poison to kill the insects that might be lurking, waiting to harm the crop. Finally, a tractor would come and cut down the corn while many workers moved quickly to get the harvest loaded onto huge trucks. The farmer was very proud of himself. “This corn will travel all around the world. Look how much man can accomplish in just one season!” he said.
The second farmer did not have many acres planted in rows as far as the eye could see. He only had a small plot in his back yard that was full of all sorts of growing things. He had tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, okra, pumpkins, herbs and flowers, and even a peach tree! This farmer plowed his field himself, so sometimes his furrows were squiggly instead of straight. He planted the seeds himself, so sometimes they were too close together and he had to thin them. When the young plants sprouted, he carefully pulled out any weeds that threatened them. He kept a sharp eye out for harmful insects so that he could prevent infestation. He watered the plants deeply every day, and soon this thriving garden became a joy to his life. At harvest time the farmer made a simple soup and sat down to eat with his family. “Thank you, Father, for what you can accomplish in the fullness of time,” he said.
Educators today face enormous pressure to be like the first farmer. They are to produce results as quickly and efficiently as possible. At the beginning of each school year, they are presented with curriculum standards and scope-and-sequence charts. In many instances they are expected to cover a lesson per day, regardless of whether or not their students have mastered the material. Then, at the end of the year, one test (usually multiple-choice) will tell them, their principals, the students’ parents, and the media how well they did their job. One of the many problems with this all-too-common industrial model of education is that teaching the learner has been overlooked in favor of teaching a curriculum. Let us not forget that education is not a product which can be put together on an assembly line. In the words of Mason, it is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.
Even though the first farmer had the ability to manipulate nature, I do not think anyone reading this blog would argue that food that has been processed or spent weeks ripening on a truck is of better quality than what you grow in your own back yard or pick up at the local farmer’s market. (As a southern girl, I can tell you that the best tomatoes you will ever eat have been left on the vine to ripen in the sun! Yum!) Children, too, are living organisms who will grow on their own time table. Yes, there are things you can do as a teacher to speed things along, but meddle too much and the harvest will not be as sweet. As Mason said, let us allow our students to take from a reading what they are ready to digest. Let them explore their world freely. Let them make connections on their own. Prepare the ground with a loving environment, carefully pull out the weeds by helping with habit formation, let them drink deeply from God’s word, and then leave the rest to the fullness of time.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day Dad! You are my Hero!
I am not sure I can say enough about my dad. If he reads this I think he would be shocked... but it's all those things that you don't say, but should... and I don't have enough time or space, but I just want to introduce you to him.
I am so proud of my father. He has influenced my life in ways he will never know. I'm sure many people come to the end of their life and wished they had done things differently at times, but he has 4 children all deeply in love with Christ and serving the Lord... And as a believer, to get to live and witness that is about as great a heritage as anyone could ask for. He was the first one in his family to become a Christian. His family was very poor, and even had some skeletons in the closet that can get strongholds on a family. But he and his siblings broke the cycle. His parents and even his father who had been an alcoholic, eventually accepted Christ and never looked back. And is I am correct, everyone of the grandkids from his parents, are walking with Christ and many very involved in ministry and Bible studies today.
My father was introduced to church as a child through a bus ministry and eventually made a profession of faith and answered the call to ministry. At the age of 18 he boarded a train from Clovis, California, with one trunk holding all his worldly possessions, and headed for Oklahoma to Bible College to become a preacher. He is the only one in his family that left California to follow the calling God made on His life, and for that I honor him.
He then went into music ministry, and led many church choirs, taught music at two Bible Colleges, and eventually pastored a number of churches. His love is music and even has a masters in voice, but his heart is lost souls. He is an amazing pastor and teacher. I sat under his preaching most of my childhood, and therefore feel very discipled by him. I still think of illustrations and sermons that sunk deep into my heart and I forever pull them up in tough situations.
One interesting story in particular, though, that has made one of the deepest imprints on my life to this day, was when we were coming home from visiting our family in California. It was Sunday morning, and even though we were traveling we did not miss church. So we were somewhere in the desert of New Mexico (and I mean desert) around 10:30am we got off on an exit and proceeded to find a church. I'm not sure how we found it because I'm not even sure there was a gas station, but we did find a church, and went in and sat at the back as it had already started.
Now we're talking middle of nowhere in the desert of New Mexico, and there were probably not 10 people in the small church building. Now to say the piano player was horrible was an understatement, and they were struggling through a hymn as we tried to sneak on the back pew. At the end of that song the person attempting to play the piano said their piano player was out of town and that she had prayed that God would send someone so that she would not have to play that morning.
Now I don't think I mentioned that my father was an amazing pianist. He is the kind of person who can sit down at the piano and play almost anything by ear, or with music, and also add all the fancy stuff. Therefore, my siblings and I started kind of looking at my dad wondering if he was going to say anything. Well, he sat there and let this poor lady struggle through one more song where she stopped a couple of times when she lost her place, or just couldn't find the right note, and would mentioned every time that she just knew God was going to send her a piano player that morning. Well, my father eventually raised his hand slightly and said, "I play the piano," and went up and helped lead us all into the presence of an amazing God.
Now don't stop reading because the story gets better. When the music was all done, a man walked up to the podium and turned to my father and said, "You wouldn't happen to be a preacher because our pastor is also out of town"... So my father sort of laughed and said, "Well actually I am the pastor," and ended up preaching the sermon that morning also. Amazingly, earlier that morning he had asked my mother to drive so that he could have a quiet time in the back of the van, where he just happened to go over a sermon he had preached before. I still stand amazed when I think about it.
It still brings tears to my eyes when I think of that story. God cared so much about that lady and her simple request that He used a family from Missouri on vacation in California, as the answer to her prayer. A simple family with parents who thought it was important to find a place to worship on Sunday mornings. We were the answer... that just blows me away. God used my parents who were just trying to be faithful to what they knew.
It convicts me to my core about why I don't pray in any and every situation, and why I put so much on myself to do things sometimes when God is just saying, "Come to me Gina because I really do care about the small things"... And just in typing this, God has impressed upon me that maybe if I would be faithful to the convictions He has put on my heart up to this point in my life I could be the answer to someone's prayer over and over and over again."
Thank you dad for being such an awesome example for me to follow. It's even in the small things you do now like staying faithful in a church and really getting involved no matter what life throws at you. I love you and can only hope to leave a legacy to my children as you have given to yours.
I am so proud of my father. He has influenced my life in ways he will never know. I'm sure many people come to the end of their life and wished they had done things differently at times, but he has 4 children all deeply in love with Christ and serving the Lord... And as a believer, to get to live and witness that is about as great a heritage as anyone could ask for. He was the first one in his family to become a Christian. His family was very poor, and even had some skeletons in the closet that can get strongholds on a family. But he and his siblings broke the cycle. His parents and even his father who had been an alcoholic, eventually accepted Christ and never looked back. And is I am correct, everyone of the grandkids from his parents, are walking with Christ and many very involved in ministry and Bible studies today.
My father was introduced to church as a child through a bus ministry and eventually made a profession of faith and answered the call to ministry. At the age of 18 he boarded a train from Clovis, California, with one trunk holding all his worldly possessions, and headed for Oklahoma to Bible College to become a preacher. He is the only one in his family that left California to follow the calling God made on His life, and for that I honor him.
He then went into music ministry, and led many church choirs, taught music at two Bible Colleges, and eventually pastored a number of churches. His love is music and even has a masters in voice, but his heart is lost souls. He is an amazing pastor and teacher. I sat under his preaching most of my childhood, and therefore feel very discipled by him. I still think of illustrations and sermons that sunk deep into my heart and I forever pull them up in tough situations.
One interesting story in particular, though, that has made one of the deepest imprints on my life to this day, was when we were coming home from visiting our family in California. It was Sunday morning, and even though we were traveling we did not miss church. So we were somewhere in the desert of New Mexico (and I mean desert) around 10:30am we got off on an exit and proceeded to find a church. I'm not sure how we found it because I'm not even sure there was a gas station, but we did find a church, and went in and sat at the back as it had already started.
Now we're talking middle of nowhere in the desert of New Mexico, and there were probably not 10 people in the small church building. Now to say the piano player was horrible was an understatement, and they were struggling through a hymn as we tried to sneak on the back pew. At the end of that song the person attempting to play the piano said their piano player was out of town and that she had prayed that God would send someone so that she would not have to play that morning.
Now I don't think I mentioned that my father was an amazing pianist. He is the kind of person who can sit down at the piano and play almost anything by ear, or with music, and also add all the fancy stuff. Therefore, my siblings and I started kind of looking at my dad wondering if he was going to say anything. Well, he sat there and let this poor lady struggle through one more song where she stopped a couple of times when she lost her place, or just couldn't find the right note, and would mentioned every time that she just knew God was going to send her a piano player that morning. Well, my father eventually raised his hand slightly and said, "I play the piano," and went up and helped lead us all into the presence of an amazing God.
Now don't stop reading because the story gets better. When the music was all done, a man walked up to the podium and turned to my father and said, "You wouldn't happen to be a preacher because our pastor is also out of town"... So my father sort of laughed and said, "Well actually I am the pastor," and ended up preaching the sermon that morning also. Amazingly, earlier that morning he had asked my mother to drive so that he could have a quiet time in the back of the van, where he just happened to go over a sermon he had preached before. I still stand amazed when I think about it.
It still brings tears to my eyes when I think of that story. God cared so much about that lady and her simple request that He used a family from Missouri on vacation in California, as the answer to her prayer. A simple family with parents who thought it was important to find a place to worship on Sunday mornings. We were the answer... that just blows me away. God used my parents who were just trying to be faithful to what they knew.
It convicts me to my core about why I don't pray in any and every situation, and why I put so much on myself to do things sometimes when God is just saying, "Come to me Gina because I really do care about the small things"... And just in typing this, God has impressed upon me that maybe if I would be faithful to the convictions He has put on my heart up to this point in my life I could be the answer to someone's prayer over and over and over again."
Thank you dad for being such an awesome example for me to follow. It's even in the small things you do now like staying faithful in a church and really getting involved no matter what life throws at you. I love you and can only hope to leave a legacy to my children as you have given to yours.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Nothing like the smell of napalm in the morning...
Nothing like waking up to the smell of strange smoke that looks like fog and you're trying to figure out if there is an electrical fire nearby or maybe a small war... We soon found out that it was the smoke from fires in eastern North Carolina. Now I'm thinking this is not L.A. ... we are in North Carolina where it actually rains... okay well it used to rain a few years ago...
Can anyone say "rapture"... Recently I often think, "floods, earthquakes, fires, wars... shouldn't we be seeing Christ in the clouds soon?" It's all so strange... so the kids and I are going to go drown our concerns at the local YMCA pool where there actually is water.
On a side note, if you think your day is stressful today, remember the Lawrenson's. Tricia a young twenty something with cystic fibrosis who just had the joy of experiencing a life long prayer of having a child, and who soon after had a lung transplant is having some complications which can be a by-product of a transplant. Please pray for this family as they are back in Durham in the hospital after only a short time home for testing and biopsy to try to figure out what is going on.
Remember also people like the Steven Curtis Chapman family, people in China and Myanmar many suffering without the hope of Christ, the orphans of Africa, and so many others who really know what it is to struggle and suffer. Yes, God cares about our smallest problems, but often our complaining just needs a fresh perspective.
Can anyone say "rapture"... Recently I often think, "floods, earthquakes, fires, wars... shouldn't we be seeing Christ in the clouds soon?" It's all so strange... so the kids and I are going to go drown our concerns at the local YMCA pool where there actually is water.
On a side note, if you think your day is stressful today, remember the Lawrenson's. Tricia a young twenty something with cystic fibrosis who just had the joy of experiencing a life long prayer of having a child, and who soon after had a lung transplant is having some complications which can be a by-product of a transplant. Please pray for this family as they are back in Durham in the hospital after only a short time home for testing and biopsy to try to figure out what is going on.
Remember also people like the Steven Curtis Chapman family, people in China and Myanmar many suffering without the hope of Christ, the orphans of Africa, and so many others who really know what it is to struggle and suffer. Yes, God cares about our smallest problems, but often our complaining just needs a fresh perspective.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Update on Kali Norris
I wanted to update any of those who had been praying for Kali Norris, the 13 year old who had disappeared from Franklinton, NC. She is fine and they are not sure what the circumstances are with everything that happened. Continue to pray for her and her family. She did plan on leaving the night she disappeared, but they are not sure if she is just rebelling, or if she has some other mental issues that are causing the strange behaviors. It's very scary for her parents because this has happened twice now and she is only 13.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Cleaned to the Closets in 4 Hours!!
It can be done!! I cleaned my house all the way to the closets yesterday in 4 hours! Someone emailed me from Craigslist at noon (someone I had communicated with before) and said they wanted to see our house (It is for sale) and asked if they could come by at 4pm. I looked around my house, panicked a little bit... and then said yes. I also began to think I am insane. I always told my husband I could get our house ready to look at in 24 hours... but this was going to be a miracle.
Now the reason I took on this daunting task is because the kids and I have been walking around our house everyday praying for the family that will buy it; thanking God that He knows the day and time it will be sold; and after lunch yesterday I had told the kids I felt like God wanted us to go on the the front porch and pray for the buyers of our house. When I went inside, I had this email waiting for me asking to see the house. It all happened so fast, and in such a way I felt like God was answering our prayers, how could I say no. (plus I have to admit I always like a little bit of a challenge). I have to say, though, it may take me a few days to find everything I stuffed under the beds or threw in a box and stored in the car for a few hours. But man our house is clean. It almost looks like a hotel. I am so impressed with myself... okay, I'm sure God is the one who miraculously helped me think and clean and organize those 4 crazy hours.
So now you all need to join us in prayer. God has taken us to the edge of our faith financially and really there is no other option except that He shows up or we basically do not pay our bills every month... of course we could go without food and electricity... but we sort of like that. It's crazy that in America you can have a really good job, but cannot get a loan to refinance things because of a mistake the bank made, and the credit card companies would rather you go into bankruptcy than work with you.
I am really not complaining because in my world God always shows up and I love it when He takes us to the edge and grows our faith because that means we are defeating Satan once again and often for the encouragement of someone else to see. This time in our lives has also let Ken and I understand what alot of people in America are going through financially and we really have compassion for them... especially if they don't know Christ. I don't see how you don't have a nervous break down without Christ if you're in a situation similar to ours. People are losing their home, some living in cars, some on the street... How does that happen? Now Ken and I know...
Now the reason I took on this daunting task is because the kids and I have been walking around our house everyday praying for the family that will buy it; thanking God that He knows the day and time it will be sold; and after lunch yesterday I had told the kids I felt like God wanted us to go on the the front porch and pray for the buyers of our house. When I went inside, I had this email waiting for me asking to see the house. It all happened so fast, and in such a way I felt like God was answering our prayers, how could I say no. (plus I have to admit I always like a little bit of a challenge). I have to say, though, it may take me a few days to find everything I stuffed under the beds or threw in a box and stored in the car for a few hours. But man our house is clean. It almost looks like a hotel. I am so impressed with myself... okay, I'm sure God is the one who miraculously helped me think and clean and organize those 4 crazy hours.
So now you all need to join us in prayer. God has taken us to the edge of our faith financially and really there is no other option except that He shows up or we basically do not pay our bills every month... of course we could go without food and electricity... but we sort of like that. It's crazy that in America you can have a really good job, but cannot get a loan to refinance things because of a mistake the bank made, and the credit card companies would rather you go into bankruptcy than work with you.
I am really not complaining because in my world God always shows up and I love it when He takes us to the edge and grows our faith because that means we are defeating Satan once again and often for the encouragement of someone else to see. This time in our lives has also let Ken and I understand what alot of people in America are going through financially and we really have compassion for them... especially if they don't know Christ. I don't see how you don't have a nervous break down without Christ if you're in a situation similar to ours. People are losing their home, some living in cars, some on the street... How does that happen? Now Ken and I know...
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