The Week in Review

This week was a calm one. Not many outings, since the weather hasn't been too agreeable. Today was the first day in some time that it hasn't rained at all. Of course, the heat is sweltering, which also discourages being outdoors.

My daughter had a very enjoyable week, though. She joined our church's youth group in a local missions trip to an orphanage. Actually, most of the children there aren't orphans per se; they're placed in this home because their parents either can't or won't care for them, and they are waiting to be placed in foster/adoptive homes. She's home now, but exhausted. I'll have to wait till tomorrow to hear all about it.

Monday: We hung around at home all day. I originally wanted to go with E to a local water park, but I found out the price was out of our budget. It was just as well; a very nasty thunderstorm came through, which would have made the waterpark dangerous. We played Monopoly Jr. E beat me twice, I won once. He commented that it would be nice to play grown-up Monopoly, if we had it. He forgot it was in his sister's room.

Tuesday: We saw Firehouse Dog at the theater for free movie day. This was the last week, and we wanted to make sure we didn't miss it. Great movie! I really enjoyed it. E liked it too, though he said he liked Hotel For Dogs better. We stopped at the library to get more books. I finished Jane Eyre, which I LOVED, and now I'm reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I read this book when I was 12 years old. Someone had thrown out a copy of the book, and I pulled it out of the trash out of curiosity. I knew about Charles Dickens but I'd never read his books, and I remember enjoying Great Expectations very much, so I thought after so many years it would be good to read again. More rain in the afternoon, so E and I played grown-up Monopoly. E cleaned the floor with me. A little embarrassing, to lose to a 9 year old.

Wednesday: Cleaning day. Bathrooms, floors, vacuuming rugs, laundry, the works. I love having the house neat and clean! Of course, I wanted a Monopoly rematch. I won this time, thankyouverymuch!!

Thursday: Stayed home, watched Horton Hears A Who, and yes, played Monopoly again. I won - two out of three ain't bad! The happiest moment for me was when I received the letter telling me my unemployment benefits were extended once again. Thank You Lord for that amazing blessing!

Friday: Grocery shopping day. I stayed under budget again, which is good. I tried to shop as fast as I could, because we were going out to lunch. E had received, as an award for good conduct at school, a free meal at a local family sports pub and restaurant. I don't like going to these places for dinner, especially on a Friday, because it gets filled with happy hour sports fanatics. But right after the lunch rush the service tends to be good, fast, and quiet. His coupon expired today, so we had to use it or lose it. My daughter wasn't able to join us, since she was at camp, but the rest of the family went and had a great time with a great meal. Then, another round of Monopoly (I lost), and now I'm typing as my daughter leans over to give me a much enjoyed hug. No growth groups tonight; our host is in Orlando this weekend.

Looking forward to a quiet, relaxing weekend. God bless everyone!

An Answer to Prayer

One of the hardest things for me in my walk with God has always been my obsession with control. I'm a bit of a control freak, and relinquishing control, even to God, is difficult. I think this is why God has put me through all the events of the past year. So many changes came that I couldn't control and had to accept, yet as I gave these to God I found peace. Instead of worrying and fretting over what would happen next and how I would accomplish it, I began learning to let go and let God. Letting go control has brought me freedom, and trusting in Him has allowed me to see Him work in my life.

Even though I lost my job a week after my daughter started college, I chose not to worry about how we would manage financially. God began teaching me how to manage money so that I would be a good steward of His blessings. Over and over I watched God's hand in my family's life as He took hold of our situation and had a solution to everything. I had to learn what was a need and what was a want, and I realized much of what I had been spending money on was unnecessary wants. As my priorities changed, I learned responsibility and appreciation for all God provides, and as a result we were able to stay out of debt.

When, in March, my unemployment benefits ran out, He provided an unrequested extension. I was blown away at how God answered my prayer at the time. Then I asked how I was to proceed. God placed upon my heart to take the money from my benefits and not spend it; instead I was to put it all in our savings account and leave the rest to Him. Again, I chose to trust and obey, even though that meant giving Him control. As a result, we were able to save over $6,000 in a six month period, enough to pay for my daughter's school expenses for this semester and then some.

I had been applying all this time to different jobs with no success. Then something unexpected happened. My sister-in-law told me about a job opportunity at the company where she works. I was unsure what this meant: did God want me to go back to work? My unemployment benefits were again running out. Could it be this was God's way of saying it was time to go back into the work force? I admit I was confused, which brings on worry. Thankfully, though, the study of Discerning the Voice of God was useful to me at this time. I read about the ways to know when God is speaking to us: through prayer, reading Scripture, meditating on the Word, and worship. I decided to go on the job interview, then I prayed about it and left it at the foot of the Throne. If it was His will that I go back to work, then I would. Otherwise, I would trust Him again as before to lead us in the right direction. Meantime, I continued praying, reading the Word, meditating on it, and worshipping.

Today I received a letter, quite unexpectedly, regarding my unemployment benefits. Once again, without my having requested or applied, I received a 13 week extension of my benefits. God has let me know again that He is in control and is taking care of everything! I waited, and listened, and received a response loud and clear. What a wonderful God I have!

This isn't to say that I'll never go back to work; that's not my decision to make. It means that when I leave things in the Lord's hands instead of trying to manipulate and control them, the results are miraculous. God has taught me so much this past year; I can't imagine what else He has in store!

Growth Group Week 4 - Revealing God's Character

As we continue in our small group study of Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer, I am amazed at how God is working in each of our lives and bringing us to a closer understanding of who He is. That was what this past Friday was about - understanding God's character as revealed in Scripture.

Chapter 7, A Revealing Heart, began with a powerful verse. Jeremiah 24:7 - "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord." God wants us to experience Him in our lives; not just know about Him, but know Him. The Bible uses many different names for God, so that we can better understand His character. For instance, He is known as Jehovah-Jireh - God our Provider. He is Jehovah-Rohi - God our Shepherd; El-Shaddai - All Sufficient (Omniscient) God; Jehovah-Shalom - God of Peace; Jehovah-Elohim - All Powerful (Almighty) God; and many more. As He reveals Himself in all these different names, we experience these different facets of His character, which bring us closer to Him. What really spoke to me about this chapter was the words found in Psalm 119:10 - "Do not let me wander from Your commandments." David showed us here that it is our responsibility to get to know God, but it is God's responsibility to cause us to hear and recognize His voice. Proverbs 3:6 - "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Chapter 8, A Peaceful Voice. This isn't describing God's voice as meek and mellow. It is describing the feeling of peace we experience when we listen to and obey God's voice. The Holy Spirit speaks to us in a way that leads us to make God-honoring decisions, and these assure us of peace. Isaiah 48:18 - "Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling like waves." Most important note in this chapter: "The Holy Spirit will not lead us to do anything that in any way hinders peace and unity in the body of Christ." (Page 105).

Chapter 9, A Truthful Voice. God's voice will always guide us in the direction of truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, and will NEVER lead us in a way contrary to God's written Word. The enemy would have us believe that Scripture is NOT absolutely true (just as he deceived Eve). He will use human traditions to substitute God's truths. That's why it's so important to read and reread Scripture throughout our lives, so that we aren't deceived into believing something is Scriptural when in fact it's only tradition. The enemy also uses strongholds, rebellious thoughts contrary to God's Word, to make us believe we aren't loved by God, or accepted by Him. The enemy uses these strongholds so that we can't experience God's triumph in our lives. We need to remember the words of Psalm 33:4 - "The word of the Lord holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust."

Chapter 10, A Powerful Voice. God's voice isn't wimpy. It is strong and powerful, because He is Almighty and All Powerful. We don't need to fear, because there is no one more powerful than our God. When we see how God changes our lives and the lives of others, we understand His power and authority and feel confident and secure in what He will do in our lives. Ephesians 1:19-20 - "I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms."

Understanding God's character helps us to know what pleases Him and what He despises. It then changes our character to match His own. We become more Christ-like as we know Him and strive to imitate Him.

The best part of our study group wasn't Friday; it was Sunday, when one of the dear ladies in our group was baptized at church. We laughed, cried, and praised Jehovah-Elohim, Almighty God, for His goodness, His kindness, His mercy and grace. What an awesome weekend! It is such joy to know that as we are reaching up to Him, He is reaching out to us as well.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, July 27, 2009...

Outside my window...it was actually a little bit cooler than usual, probably because of all the rain we got this weekend. Not just rain either, loud thunderstorms. Everything is calm this morning though, so far.

I am thinking...about my prayer life, and what is lacking in it. Need more focus.

I am thankful...for yesterday's baptism celebration. One of the girls from our growth group and an ex-coworker of mine got baptized. I'm not typically a cryer, but I couldn't hold back the tears. Of joy, naturally.

From the learning rooms...my son is getting a little more into reading. It's still a bit of a struggle for him, but he's trying harder than before and looking for books that interest him. Always a good sign.

I am going...to go to the library possibly. I wanted to go to the water park but it's out of this week's budget. Other than that, nothing planned outdoors. It's been raining a lot lately.

I am hoping...our church's youth group reaches out to the children at His House, and learns to appreciate how blessed they are to have a home and parents who love them.

From the kitchen...baked chicken 'n stuffing.

I am wearing...my VBS t-shirt, jeans and sandals. Had to drop my daughter off at the church office this morning. She's one of the leaders for this week's missions trip.

I am creating...more time for reading.

I am reading...Ezekiel for morning devotions, Luke for SOAP devotions, finished Jane Eyre yesterday (loved it!), have about 2 chapters of Passionate Wives to read, and Discerning the Voice of God for growth groups. I rarely turn on the tv anymore, and when I do I find it totally boring and useless. Then I pick up a book again. God is weaning me off of television and I'm so thankful.

I am hearing...my fingernails on the keyboard, and the gurgling of the coffee maker. It's so peaceful and quiet. I love the quiet. City born, yet I could live in a quiet little town in the country and be forever content.

Around the house...I've got laundry to finish, and I really need to give my bedroom a good dusting.

One of my favorite things...is a good book. My eyes get tired more than they used to, but I still prefer reading than any other type of entertainment.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Firehouse Dog is showing at the free movies tomorrow, and of course we'll go to the library a couple times. We'll see what else the Lord has in store.

Here's a prayer request I'm sharing...our youth pastor chose something different this summer. Instead of camp, the youth are at His House, a home for displaced children (the kids call it an orphanage, and it could be considered one, though most of the children there have parents alive, just unable for various reasons to care for them. The children are awaiting foster or adoptive parents). Please pray for Pastor Mark as he ministers to these children about the love of Jesus, and for the youth of our church to learn compassion and gratitude. My daughter is one of the youth leaders; pray this experience will touch her heart for these children also.

Wanna join in the fun? Peggy is on vacation, but you can visit Grandmother Wren and leave your link there. God bless and have a wonderful week.

The Week in Review

It was a pretty busy week, as most are. So much to be thankful for...

Monday: I was out running errands most of the day. It took 2 hours for my oil change (ugh!), then went out to get gas, then run to the bank. Thankfully my daughter cooked for us, because I wouldn't have been home in time. Her ham steaks turned out delicious!

Tuesday: E and I went to see Hotel For Dogs. Great movie. A bit of a tear jerker, but fun and wholesome. Afterwards, I ran home to get lunch ready, then took E for a desperately needed haircut. Dropped my daughter off at her best friend's house, then back home. I was able to get some laundry done in the interim, as I was in and out of the house.

Wednesday: House needed cleaning! In the heat of the summer we get so much dust, and with allergies it can get so uncomfortable. E and I ran to the library and I got a new book, Jane Eyre (I'm really into the classic English literature now). We also got some books and DVD's for him. I'm glad we didn't plan anything else; it poured for a good part of the afternoon.

Thursday: Another day indoors cleaning, thanks to lots more rain. Not complaining, mind you. The rain cleanses the air. Besides, it gave me time to get caught up on stuff around the house.

Friday: Grocery shopping day. Thankfully the stores were empty and I was able to get done quickly. Growth groups were awesome once again (I'll post about that later). E and my friend's kids went to see G-Force with her husband, which he is most thankful for.

A busy week is a good week. Thank God for our health and our busyness.

Observing My Senses

For Today, July 25, 2009...

I am seeing...coconut palms laden with fruit. Overcast skies, but the clouds are white so it's still bright out.

I am feeling...thankfulness, because my pastor's wife had her baby on Wednesday and she and the baby are doing well. Praise the Lord for this new miracle.

I am tasting...turkey on a toasted english muffin. It's a favorite of mine because it's filling without being fattening. Healthy, too.

I am hearing...the ticking of a clock, and cartoons in the distance. It's a quiet morning.

I am smelling...coffee. It lingers for a while in the mornings.

It takes just a moment to stop and observe what's going on around you. Won't you join me?

Do Not Wear Yourself Out

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich;

have the wisdom to show restraint.

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle."

- Proverbs 23:4-5

My husband works in the food industry. Many holidays the company's office personnel have the day off, but my husband still has to go out and service grocery stores, because they're open. You can't tell Wal-mart that they won't be serviced because it's Memorial Day or Labor Day. The sales reps have to be there, or risk losing shelf space.

I thought about how times have changed. When I was a little girl, nothing was open on Christmas. Nothing. Christmas day was spent at home. No outside entertainment was needed (other than visits from family); there was plenty to be played with. One of the local television stations had Christmas music playing the entire day, while a yule log burned. No programming, because Christmas wasn't about watching TV. It was about being with family.

Thanksgiving was a special event also. Generations of women got together in the kitchen to prepare (from scratch) the most delectable meals imaginable; the whole house smelled like heaven for days. If you realized you'd run out of cinnamon, you went over to your neighbor to borrow some because there was no store to run to; everyone was home and all business establishments were closed. The day was spent eating, napping, playing games, reminiscing, and being together.

Now, everything centers around the pursuit of the mighty dollar. Grocery stores are open till 7:00pm on Thanksgiving day as a "service to the consumer". Problem is, the employees at that store are consumers, too, with families who won't get a home cooked meal because at 7:00 it's too late to start cooking. Many people who are out working that day will bring home catered food, thereby eliminating some of the most precious hours of the holiday, the time of food prep, of serving the family by preparing something scrumptous like only mom/grandma/auntie can make. The focus of the conversation (and this irritates me to no end) is not family, or even football. It's the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday. It's about stores making money, and people spending money, and doing excessive overtime to make more money to spend.

Christmas likewise, has become more about consumerism than a day to celebrate the birth of our Lord. People are together in the morning as they open presents, then run off to the movies. I don't get it. Families can't have conversations at a movie theater. Where's the bonding? Where are the memories? Isn't this the perfect time to play with that new board game? Wouldn't you rather help Jr. put that new model together? How about if Mom and big sister entertain us with a fashion show, trying on all their new outfits? We can laugh together, talk, have fun without leaving the house.

The one thing that stood out in my mind was this: we work more now than we did back then, yet the economy is in the dumps. Doesn't seem to make sense, does it? We should be making more money because we work more hours, yet we have less and less. Everyone is "wearing themselves out to get rich" yet we've seen how the money has "sprouted wings and flown off to the sky like an eagle." It isn't that making money is wrong; we need to work if we want to eat. But our priorities have shifted, and the main concern is about making more money and having more stuff. God has been put on the back burner, and His advise has been overlooked. We need to get back to where we used to be. We need to return to the place where work was a means to support our families, and then take the time to be with said families. Let's get our priorities straight, people. Let's make holidays what they are meant to be: holy days.