Hello Friends,

Hope all of you have had a great week and are

enjoying these nice cool morings.

I have enjoyed our Bible study that we have been

doing I hope we can this again in the Spring.

What I took from this lesson this week on Daniel

we needed to Pray to God in all circumstance

don't give in to anything or anybody.  We

all need  to someone to talk with and confined

in ask them to pray with us and for us.God

is our best friend and wants to hear from us

even though He knows what we are going to say

still talk to Him about it.  Yes there things

that have happened to me in my life that I have

shared with others on how I meet my husband,

my job, moving to Hunstville these are a few areas

on where my faith in God came through.

I have shared this part of my life with the aides

I have had in my room.  I have told them

the story of a man that was at my old church

about a truck he wanted how he prayed  told God

what  he  wanted it to look like  inside and out

the only thing  was the color wasn't what he

wanted but he got it any way.  I belief  this

is where is started with me listening to how much

faith this man had in God and how he helped

him I wanted God to help me I want to share

my faith with others I want to walk with God

everyday.  I want people to see that Jesus lives

in me I want God use.

Good Wednesday Evening,

Hope all of you have had a nice week so far and enjoying

this cool weather.  What I got out of this weeks lesson was

that We have to be obedient to God in all things  where ever

we maybe.  Be faithful to God  be faithful  to family , spouses

friends if we are disobient there are consequences .. We need

to let people see  that the Lord lives in us.

If we are older we needed to teach younger women 

we needed to pray  for our husbands  our parents  and children.

Be good housekeepers.  Our husbands are to be the spitrual leader

of the home.  If he is not we needed to pray  we are not to  cut

down our husbands  the dads to our children..This is what I took

with me  from this weeks lesson.

God's Use of Women

I feel like I have to start by saying that the titles are always the hardest part for me.  I want my titles to be catchy, yet mean something.  I just haven't mastered that yet.  This one is not so great, but maybe the mood will strike me and I can change it later.

This weak I felt God leading me to meditate and pray about questions 1-3 that begin with "How do Deborah and Jael encourage you as a woman?"  Here goes nothing (or maybe it's everything?)...

Deborah was known for her wisdom and discernment as a judge and leader of the entire Israelite nation. Jael was God's instrument in defeating Sisera, the lone survivor of the battle. These are both examples for me of how God used women in powerful ways. It reminds me that being a Christian woman and wife means submitting to my husband, but that doesn't mean that God made me weak.  I can pray for wisdom and discernment in every day situations, as well as whatever God is leading me to do.

As far as how he used them in their roles as wives and mothers, I honestly am not real sure.  I know that being a Godly wife and mother has been my primary role for the last few years and feel confident that in doing so I was being obedient to God.  I still feel this is one of the most important, if not THE most important, calling on my life right now. However, I also sense God's calling to do other things.  Now I struggle with the whole concept of how to juggle wife and mom with other service.  I have to be very careful not to over commit, to be more organized, and to be intentional, otherwise I will feel the frustration and will not be effective to any of it.

I chose not to think of movements started by women that have changed our world or have had an impact on their society, because I'm choosing to focus on a movement that is currently being planned and prayed about that God will use to change our world - particularly our community.  For the first time, I KNOW that God is calling me to do more than my role as a wife and mom, more than my role as a Sunday School teacher, more than my role of a Christian teacher in our public school system.  I KNOW that He is calling me to be involved with the IF: Gathering through IF: Local.  I am so excited to see what God has in store for Huntsville women.

I know that Satan is going to attack in any way he can. I'm expecting to feel pulled in many different directions, to feel guilty for not being home that weekend. I'm expecting for something to come up at work that will make it difficult for me to take off.  I also know, that Satan is mischievous and deceitful and that he will likely attack in ways I don't expect.

I would like for you to pray for me as I continue to seek what God would have me to do with this.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and  a good start to their week today.
I can't say that I've been obedient all the time to the Lord but I believe he smiles on the times when I am (few as they may be).  Thank you Lord that you graciously take us back into your embrace when we fall away from you.  I know I've been defiant or just not courageous on many occasions.
Lord, help me to take one day at a time.

Hope all of you are doing well and had a good weekend.

I read the lesson for this week and read the questions.

I think I may have to pass on this this weeks lesson.

I had a hard time with the questions .

I believe that If we help others and are kind to others

the Lord will reward us for our efforts.  Just like

Rehab  protected the spies  the Lord will protect us.

Not so great at the posting . . .

So I know I am late . . . again. I print out the questions for group discussion and put it on there and then forget to post.
Here are a few thoughts I had on Noah (I know I'm late :) )

Question 4 on how Noah was affected socially, emotionally, and materially because of his obedience, his faith. I think if someone were to build an ark these days and say that God told him to do it, he would definitely make national news so I can just imagine how difficult it may have been for him back them. I wonder what God has planned for us that we hesitate on because of the social, emotional, financial, material outcomes?

I know several of you mentioned the rainbow and how we forget what it represents and the reminder. For me I want to take the time to remember that God is faithful, he will not break any of the promises that He has made to me. It can remind me of Noah and his faithfulness and his obedience.

I loved the challenge to memorize a verse this week. I hate to admit, but I teach sunday school and every week encourage kids to memorize their verses and yet I struggle with doing it myself. Of course they get the reward of putting a pie in a teachers face . . .lol! I took a small passage that I like, wrote it on index cards and laminated it and put it on my mirror. I will let you know how I am doing on it! :) Have a good week. I will try to be better at posting on time.

Wealth and Waiting

Let me just say that I had this written last week and never posted it...

Wealth: This week's study took me in a couple of different directions.  There were a couple of questions that focused on wealth and these really hit home with me. I read Jen Hatmaker's 7 this summer and was convicted of so many excesses in my life as a result of "wealth." (I'm not saying in any way that we are wealthy, but we are blessed in many ways that others aren't.) Immediately after reading the book I was so gung-ho about making changes in the way we spent money, what we spent money on, what we found value in.  However, life happened and the need to get rid of "stuff" and desires faded quickly.  This was a reminder that "stuff" and money is not eternal.  I lost my eternal perspective and this week has helped me refocus.   I'm plan to reread the book and rededicate our home to purging and changing the way we look at stuff and others.  (This is a whole series and study in itself that I am blogging about at my personal blog hilarioushooks.blogspot.com.)

Waiting: The other piece that I got stuck on this week was the question that asked if I could identify ways that my faith had been strengthened in the past year or two.  I don't know if it was me not paying attention or God needing to remind me what all He has done in the last year. For several years (probably 5 or more), my husband Tim applied for many jobs to move up both in town and out of town.  Each time he received a call that he was one of two finalists and it always came down to the other person.  It was extremely frustrating, exhausting, and disappointing.  There were times I was angry at those making the decisions and at God.  I didn't understand.  Last spring Tim was given the opportunity to move in a different direction professionally.  It was NOTHING that either of us had ever considered, thought about, or even just wondered about. It was truly a God thing.  Our lives have definitely changed for the better. WAY less stress makes for a more relaxed Dad and husband.

We didn't see the bigger picture.  Each of those jobs Tim didn't get - we were able to see after the fact that he didn't want them.  They weren't good situations. Our perspective was clouded by the daily drama we found ourselves in. I have to use these last years in the future when I begin to doubt and can't understand the waiting.

I also am sorting through the concept that maybe sometimes God's "calling" is to "wait."  At least sometimes I thing God is telling me to"wait" for his calling.  Regardless, I have to continue to seek Him and serve Him while I'm waiting.

I choose question number 2.

I think from day one you can start talking and singing

to your children, grandchildren, the children that

maybe in your care.  You can get a toddler Bible and

show pic of Jesus to them Pray over them you

can hold their hands kneel at their bedside.

catching up

I'm just now catching up since I missed last week.

From the Noah lesson;
I thought about the rainbow question and sad to say, I usually don't think of God's promise when I see one. Today at work though, my co-workers sitting by the window commented on the rainbow that appeared after the rain this afternoon.  I heard one woman say that God is letting us know that everything is going to be OK.  It was a very simple statement but still gave me reassurance that God almighty is looking down on us with love and compassion.

I do use my past experiences to remember how God has provided for me, protected me, forgiven me, encouraged me and most of all loved me.  I believe the Lord wants us to pass on the wisdom we have gained from Him not just to children but any time we come across a "teachable moment" with someone else.  It's important though to be in tune with God so that you are led by the Lord to speak the right words at the right time.  Sometimes it's hard for me to keep my mouth shut and keep it foot-free.

From the Abraham/Sarah lesson;
Abraham's faith grew because he trusted the Lord and therefore gave his faith room to grow.  I liked Vickie's illustration about God not giving up on us when we doubt but that our faith needs room for growth.  I had not thought about it that way before but I can imagine the Lord just shaking his head at us and wanting us to know that we just need to wait and see what he has ahead for us.

Over 1 year ago, the company I had been working for was purchased by a much larger world-wide non-profit organization. I knew there would be lots of changes and they would be huge.  Things were a little unsure for a while but I had no choice but to hang in there and ride the waves.  Looking back at what has happened so far, there have been some difficult changes but most of them good ones and now I can see the Lord's hand in, at least the part I am involved in.  I have a new supervisor now and Praise the Lord ! she's a Christian and we are able to share Christ with each other.  I'm thinking in today's age that doesn't happen often enough.  Anyway, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to God for the place he has put me and the chances I have to minister to people at work.  All glory and honor belongs to Him.

Cheri Keaggy put it so well when she sang
"What a privilege
It is to know You
To walk in Your ways
To live under grace"

Have a great week everyone and God bless !