Need more time...

Okay, so I definitely didn't get to #10 on my "to do" list last week, but I felt like it was a successful week non-the-less.

I've been cheering one of my bestest friends on, via texts, in her endeavor of qualifying for golf. I'm not entirely sure where she's ranked or if she's going to make "pro" status by doing this, but I'm cheering and praying her on! She's been on my strongest rocks since God made us friends. I'm not entirely sure that I could do 'life' without her.

Westgate Women has also been gaining momentum. My co-lead and I have very similar ideas, with lots of head nods and "oh yeahs" during our conversations that it's not a coincidence. God is doing amazing things in our church and in our lives.

Again, if I could just back into the swing of I'd be a happy camper. Our house isn't messy to most standards, but the OCD in me is on high-alert because my drawers need special attention. I feel like we need to spring clean even though I did that just a few months ago. I have a plan of how I'm going to rearrange the kitchen cabinets, yet I haven't been able to do it yet. Again, that OCD thing is sort of driving me crazy lately.

So, since I'm killing time before 'quittin' time' I'm going to again take a queue from Mandy and do this week's partial meal plan and goals. Here we go:
Menu Plans this week:
Tuesday: Cheesy Sour Cream chicken, homemade mac & cheese, and steamed veggies
Wednesday: leftovers from the weekend
Thursday: lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and asparagus
Friday: homemade pizza with chicken feta sausage, Alfredo sauce, and artichokes on the Big Green Egg (best pizza ever) *this didn't happen last week so I'm hoping that it will this Friday
Saturday: dinner at friends
Here are my goals for this week. Some I didn't get to from last week, some are in continuation of the ones I did last week, some are just plain needed:
1. organize decorations to get ready for fall
2. organize dresser drawers
3. purchase pattern and start my Abby Tote
4. catch up with Helene / pray for her
5. finish Created to Be His Helpmeet and find next book to read
6. save $50 spending fast! (don't spend money until Saturday)
7. start "the morning efficiency project" - this will help me be more effective in the a.m. before work.

Okay... it's 1 minutes past quittin' time. I'm outta here!

Love your neighbor

"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14

An email from my dad this morning:
A Holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.' The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.

In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, Which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, “I don't understand.” “It is simple,” said the Lord. “It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. The greedy think only of themselves.”

Another one bites the dust...

Last year, many marriages around us seemed to fall apart. Of those we saw on the rocks only one couple is still living together, yet they don’t share the same bed and divorce is a word uttered often. Watching them fall apart doesn’t sit well with my soul. It makes me wonder how they got there and confused as to why they didn’t fight for each other. It causes me to doubt marriage and love and relationships and, I’m embarrassed to say it, God.
This past week, I’ve learned that one more marriage is over. Separated for a year, both hearts are broken or hardened to the other. Thoughts of hatred fill their heads instead of a glimpse of reconciliation. They are moving on, seeing other people and ‘happier now than ever before.’ I learned of this broken marriage and cried. Oh Lord, how can this be??

I know that it can be tough at times. We have an enemy who wants us to fail. In the heat of the moment, Satan loves to bring awful thoughts to the surface. He laughs as tempers flare, harsh words are said, tears shed and doors slammed. He rejoices as one more divorce attorney is called, knowing that his hold on this couple is good and tight. I look at these couples, once happy and in love, friends who’ve now become strangers and I cringe to think that one more number to add to the ever increasing divorce rate.

Then, I have days like today! Days when God leads me through His word, arming me with a weapon the devil has no power over. Sweet memories of our wedding day fill my heart. I twirl my wedding ring and thoughts of the man I’m crazy about drown out Satan’s temptations. The Lord leads me to write down verses on index cards, read words of those who have weathered the storm, and gives me prayers for my husband, for myself, and for our marriage. He reminds me to remain in Him (John 15:4), seek first His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33) take captive every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5) and think on things that are pure, lovely, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

When I open God’s word I am reminded that we do have an enemy who has come to kill, steal, and destroy, but I am also aware the Lord has give me authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19) and, with that authority, I’m going to fight against anything that tries to destroy what God has put together.

I will forever carry The Power of a Praying Wife with me. My copy is ‘loved’ with a binding that is shot but it talks about the number one weapon we have against the one who has come to kill, steal, and destroy. In the first chapter at the bottom of one of the first pages, Stormie Omartian urges us to say “I will not allow anything destroy my marriage.” Today, as I think about that marriage broken, I will say that out loud for all to hear.

*Please excuse my play on words with the title.*

More of James, Less of Bee

More of James and less of me... that is my prayer as I continue to read though his book. Oh Lord, please give me an understanding of your word so that I may be able to live it out in my life. 

James 1:7-8: Double minded and unstable... those two words hit me like a freight train. I do sometimes doubt God, probably because I want to have control and He doesn't work fast enough for me. After reading today's verses  that means I shouldn't expect anything from him. (YIKES!) I have an excellent relationship with my dad and have absolutely no problems asking him for help. He's so wonderful I can't even begin to describe it. My dad has always, always been there for me even when I didn't know I needed him. So, why can't I remember that as great as my earthly father is, my heavenly father blows him out of the water. That is my prayer today; trust / obey / NOT doubt my heavenly father as much as I do my earthly father.

James 1:9-11: I was a little confused so I had to read the study notes in my bible. Then things made more sense. "Trials: the Christian who suffers the trial of poverty is to take pride in his high positions as a believer, and the wealthy Christian is to take pride in trials that bring him low, perhaps including the loss of his wealth." I am so thankful for this because it helped me understand better and put things into action. We currently live in my husbands grandfather's house (it was sitting empty before we got married) now while we pay off Matt's law school debt and save up for our first home. Sometimes it's so hard because all I want to do is 'build our nest' and there just isn't that opportunity right now. It's not our house to paint or decorate or make any sort of changes. For a girl who 'wants to paint the world red' this can be an I-S-S-U-E! When I get an itch and want to find our own house, Matt reminds me of the reason why we are where we are and pulls me back down.  Trails... persevere... Oh Lord help me stay on course!!

James 1:12:  Isn't it amazing how one verse can say so much about God's love for us?!?!  "Perseverance will result in blessings, including the crown of life."  Thank you Lord Jesus.  It is still amazing to me that as sinners, we are able to be loved, adored by God and receive His blessings.  Why wouldn't you love a father like that :c)

James 1:13-14: The thing that stuck out the most is that when we are pulled away from God, due to our own desires, we will face temptations. And, those temptations are never from them Lord. I think that in my heart I really know this, but sometimes my head wants to ask God "WHY!?!?" In those moments, I should turn to God and ask for "HELP" instead. Oh, sin is so gross and the devil is very sneaky.

Today is also a day that I am joining Courtney at women living well and praising my hubs.

One thing that I totally love about him is his drive. He knew at the age of 8 that God had meant for him to an attorney. *I'm 30 and still don't know what I'm meant 'to be'* When he first graduated from Law School, he took a job clerking for the county. Then, when he passed the bar and was sworn in he took the first job that came along. It gave him the experience he needed but it just wasn't what God had planned for his career. In December of '09, he left the firm he was at and started his own practice. B-I-N-G-O!! God meant for him to be his own boss, travel NW Ohio, and ministry to the criminals and down hearted. He is a-mazing at his job and the best attorney in the 419. I love his drive, perseverance, and heart for the Lord.