God's leading

You know God takes you on a path. Not always fun, but learning to listen to him. It is hard sometimes going the road He leads you on. But when you take the time, you see it is for your good. Even though it may hurt

My Birthday

So, Mark has been giving me a card for the last week for my birthday. They are cute. He got me this book and stamp set. Then got me gift certificate to this tea place. Seth got me a gift card to subway.
The girls got me Wii Fit. and Sara got me Vera Bradley purse.
Not too bad.
I was chatting with Mark this morning. I gets discouraging waiting now over year and half for God to do this miracle he said he would.
We just have no connections, no community down here. It is hard.
So we press on and on.
I keep thinking, how did Joseph endure all that time in prison. He did, and God brought him out to do what He planned.
So i wait, and pray and cry. And will continue and continue and continue as we wait.

Loosing weight

Well, how many people start the year loosing weight. Or say they are.
Well, Mark and I did say that, and have begun to loose weight. Now his was more after going to the dr, and the dr telling him he needed to loose weight.
Well, Mark had begun to see some different things.
So we begun to change our eating habits. No sweets or very little. Not buys a lot of stuff not good for you. Taking some supplements. Learning to eat 6 times a day. Not good yet, but getting better.
In a weeks time, only doing a mile walk twice, i have lost just over a pound. It is good, but I will feel better when I can fit into these other jeans. But I press on.
I refused some muffins at bible study.
I drink water. Love Green tea.
And for part of my birthday, mark got me "Skinny chicks eat real food". Yes I did want that book. So I was glad.
Slowly but changing.

Just Things

Well, I got an email from Zach Saturday morning. At least we know he made it. Mark made the comment, what is different from all the time he was in Louisville, at least we could text him. We can't do that. So we won't hear from him too much.

Also, I heard today, that in order to be in kindergarten, at least this school district, the child has to be tested. WOW, I wonder if they really do a study, and see by pushing kids before they are ready, and those that learn as they are ready, how in so many years or when graduate, what do they find out. Will those kids that learn earlier than little later do any better.
I know one thing, if we still live down here, it seems more and more we will be homeschooling Seth. None of my other kids, especially Zach knew a whole lot, and he did just fine.
Why do parents really think they have to push.
Not me, not going to deal with stress.

We shall see.

Trusting and following God

Trusting God shows when you don't know where in the world your son is. You know where he is headed, but no clue when his plane took off or landed. You have to trust. When you can't communicate much, when you hear No News is Good news.
Follow and Trust God, when you feel alone. When you wonder if anyone is praying at all. You have to trust. Over and Over, not what you see what God is telling you. And when no one is saying anything when you ask for prayer.
When you just feel blah, have to trust.
One thing is lately I am seeing a little why I am going through some of this.
Trying to trust, but it is hard sometimes
One step at a time.

Zach on his way

Zach called me this morning before the team left for the airport. Nice to hear from him. He did say they would email us about once a week.
Well he made his first flight. They arrived. Now they have time before they leave for overseas flight. It is alot nicer traveling with people you have spent about 4 months with.
What amazing things God will do in his life and through him and all the others.
Trusting God

Zach is headed to India

Well, Zach and the others from YWAM Louisville are headed to India and South Africa. WOW, just a week plus ago, they still had $13,000 to go. And now 2 days before they leave, they got it all. God is always on time.
We won't have much communication with him for the 6 weeks he is gone. Will learn about trusting God. I know he will come back a changed man. How awesome. May God use all those in India and South Africa to touch lives with the love of Christ.

Prayer

You know we have to pray for direction on everything. We need to pray for others in our lives. People we are involved with. For our church and pastors.
We need to pray for our families and friends.
We need to pray for this election. Everytime you read something, is it true or not. Over and over.
We need to pray for God to guide us during this election. During these primaries, to clearly know who to vote for. Not because someone tells us, but who God wants. I know I have to agree we need our current president to one term. But who does God want.
I know as a nation, we need to get back to seeking God. Remember it is in "God we trust". What did the founding fathers desire. Why was this country here. Religious Freedom. God.
I hope and pray this nation, the heart of people will see God is right and true and can trust Him. That they will encounter His love.

God is with us

From Psalm 34:17 (MSG)
"Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you."
This is where I have been for some time. I feel like I cry and cry and cry out to God.
It is only Him that will do what He says. He is the only one who can help with this hurt and loneliness I feel. I am glad He is listening, cause it seems sometimes no one else is. Only God really understands and Jesus knew too.

grandkids

I love my grandkids. 3 of them I only get to see every so often. Not enough. My youngest I see 4 days a week. They are all healthy, which is a blessing. they are a gift. Each one so unique and different. As they grow develop own personalities. Unique, just like God designed them to be.
Truly thankful for them.

Vacation over

Okay, not sure I was on vacation. Laundry still had to happen, cooking and loading dishwasher, making the bed. All had to happen.
Now back to routine. Right now Seth does not have classes to go to, so that is not normal. But other things. Mark is back to work, after 4 days off.
TV shows have returned to new shows.
Now the GOP begins the voting for our next canidate, hopefully to beat our current President.
Prayer has to be the key, pray and keep praying.
Asking God to show who to vote for.
Our country needs prayer. May hearts be turned to you oh Lord. Who has all the answers we need.

New Year

Well 2012 is here. What will this year bring? I have no clue. All I can do is what God ask. Not with eyes to see, but in faith of what He tells me. Follow that path. Even if it means no one gets it. Even if some don't care. Even if some think it is stupid.
Noah built an ark. No one got it.
Do what He leads. Isn't that what is important. Obedience. Grow and grow in Christ. In His ways. What He wants. Jesus was not always popular.
Even now if you read the news, people don't care at all. Follow Christ when He gives what you want. Not following His ways.
People want to twist the word of God around themselves. Not always true.
Not letting others make you feel guilty to do something. It is about seeking God. Loving people.
I am going to continue to praise and thank God for providing all the money we need to pay our house off. To provide the money to buy our new house. To then show us who to give this house too. Then continue to pray God show us the neighborhood we are to move in. Pray for ministering to the misfits. Encourage others.
Then I am going to ask God to give me the encouragement I need each day. And ask God to comfort when hurting. To be what I need each day.
Others may not understand what God is leading us to do. Others didn't believe Jesus was the messiah. Job's friends blamed him. When God allowed it.
One step at a time. One day at time. If that means people don't care. If that means people forget, if that means no one prays, then so be it. Cause God is allowing it. So I will get angry, I will cry, I will feel have bad days. But God is always with me.
I thank God for leading us on the path to move. Not because I can see how or when. Not because others believe or understand. But because God said it. Not because we deserve it, but because this is God's plan.
God is God of the impossible. He restores what the Locust have eaten.
This year am praying for what to do for Seth to school. We have until Aug to figure it out. God is not early always on time. Will trust what He decides. He knows.

God

Life has to be centered, focused on God. He is with us always. Sometimes doesn't feel that way.
Sometimes feels like he has stepped out of our reach. Sometimes feels like he isn't listening. but He is always there for us. He is with us. He does not leave us at all.
He does take us on a path that is hard, lonely, attacked, cold, dark. But what I am seeing, He is there, with us. There is something for us. Does not make sense. but will we trust what He is doing.
And all the crying I have done, there is a reason.
Also the world thinks they know God and all about them. But not like that at all. God wants us to give to other people. Reach out and love them. Forgive. Move on. Let go and Let God.
God never ever forces his love on anyone. Free choice. It always seems great for us. but not when other people can have free choice and hurt us.
But do we want people to be forced. i don't. I want them to love me because they do.
This path he has had us on for the last 1 1/2 is hard, Cause it seems nothing is happening at all. Just thanking and praising Him. All He ask. But it has been hard, hurtful. Even at times lonely.
But God has shown us some things, that because of our hurt we have new understanding.
good thing even though hard.
Wait and praise. One day at a time.

What I want for Christmas

As I have thought what I want for Christmas, not a lot. Not a lot of physical stuff.
There are things that I have really cried out to God for. Only He can do them.
Things are okay, but they don't satisfy. Somethings God can do. Others, it is people listening and following. But also trusting that God will fill me with what I need as I wait.
Things that God desires, for us all.

Forgiven

tonight, at church like any time I go to the Orchard, always feel God speaks to me.
Well, tonight near the beginning of the message, I thought of the person who read my blog and let others know.
You know whoever you are, I forgive you.
I don't know why you read my blog to begin with. Were you trying to get me in trouble. Did you want me to fail. did you want me to mess up or did you have something against me.
Well, you are forgiven. Why you did it is between you and the Lord. If you are happy, then so be it.
Yes I was hurt, and I realize should not have written those things on my blog. But, it hurt me more that if you were a friend you could never come to talk to me first.
May God just help in be who He desires you to be.

seems like a long week

It is only Wednesday. sure seems much, much longer week.
I guess been lots, not really.
Poor Betsy had flat on Monday night, then decided that they needed to take it to get rim fixed. So we said could borrow escort. Then woke up Tuesday with the other flat just after she left to take it to tire place. So it was long day for her.
Mia was great.
Glad I get to watch her 3-4 days a week.
tomorrow head up to see other 3 grandkids. I love my grandkids, The babies can't say anything, but their smiles are enough. The other two, when they call my name. I love it. I am grateful they only live 6 hours away.
Just been one of those weeks. This waiting on God to do this miracle gets hard. It is lonely living here. We have no community, nothing.
I know God will come through. It is just don't feel really hardly anyone believes He can or would do it.
I always look forward to going to Kalla's church, always get a word from the Holy Spirit. sunday night we are going to Encounter, looking forward to that, hopefully some encouraging word. I really need to have some soaking ministry, really. But will take even a little bit.
Have some things to get done today. Some laundry, some cleaning,
Grateful I can stay at home. Watch Mia, be here with Seth, and be able to watch other grandkids when come down.
Thankful I can go to bible study.

What a morning

Well, I woke up not rested. I had woken up about 1 something, now I know why, Mark had gotten up with Seth, who had to go to bathroom.
Any way, Mark had left for work and came home.
He proceeded to tell me that someone stole radio/cd player out of Echo in the garage.
Now we had not driven it since Friday night. So sometime between Fri night and this morning, radio/cd player gone.
So early this morning, i had to call police station.
I wondered on Saturday morning when I went to Aldi's why no quarter in change thing.
It is a thing, but still. Just feel violated.
I hope people are happy, Obama has done a what as president. People stealing. I know it happens, but how much worse is it going to get.
Just frustrated, I really, really hope whoever did it gets caught, locked up.
Seriously, doesn't anyone wonder how this person got a new cd player.
I am mad, yesterday was one of those days.
Mark and I are so ready to move. We have NO Community here. We tried and tried. But nothing.
Why can't police take finger prints. Something so simple.
We hate living in city of Cincinnati any way. Just makes it even more.
I guess police will come. They have to take a report.
The thing is Zach bought this for the Echo. Just makes me mad.

Zach

We went to Louisville to see Zach. We took him out to lunch, and got to spend time with him.
He has been learning and growing in the Lord. He has learned a lot. He is excited to go to India in January.
It is amazing to hear him talk about what he has learned. Growing in the Lord.
I am thankful we are less than 2 hours away and could go down to visit. We will pick him up in about 5 weeks for christmas break. Then shortly after the first of the year it is off to India.
Excited for him, but do miss him. But also so neat to see his heart yearn and hunger for God.
Thank you Lord

Christian baseball players

We love baseball. Mark loves the St. Louis Cardinals, and I love Chicago Cubs. Well of course we are watching the World Series cause Cardinals are playing rangers. We are cheering Cardinals on.
Well, I was checking facebook, and CBN had a story on World Series. They talked to some players who played and are christians.
Found out one of Mark's favorite players, Molina is a christians.
Yippee! When you watch the games and see these players, you sense something different. Wonder and boom, find out they are brother in the Lord.
After a playoff game last week, we heard Holliday interviewed, and made the comment, Lord,
well he too is a believer.
I told Mark would love to have us write a book and get to meet all Christian baseball players. Would be fun, but would love to share all these believers with fans all over. For kids to hear about what matters most. You never know what God can do.
We love baseball and love the Lord. Nothing is impossible with God.

Zach is at YWAM

Well we took Zach to Louisville for YWAM.
It is neat to see him following the direction the Lord is leading.
But it is hard. He won't be home till Dec for christmas break before he heads overseas for mission trip.
This morning I said to Mark, that God could start us moving. Send the money to pay the house off.
There is nothing for us down here. Zach isn't working now. So that was kinda like the last thing we needed to be here for.
The house is too big. We have NO COMMUNITY over here.
We moved here 5 yrs ago for a church plant and that did not work.
So we are ready. Ready for community.
Just a little sad. I know this is what God has for him, but still hard.
I think it makes the loneliness we deal with even harder.
And the fact Seth has no little kids to play with. No neighbors with kids.
So we wait and see what God is going to do.
Besides this house is way to big for the three of us.
So I will take some time to deal with this.
Will be exciting to hear all that God does for Zach.
I thank God for this opportunity for him.