Long time.... But God is still working!

 It has been a while since I posted and I am sorry for that I have been very busy but I will do my best to keep up now. Hope you enjoy

I just want to share what my last three months have been like, It started with finding out I needed to have surgery then My accident soon after that and In there many worries and concerns. I finally let go of the worry and now I can see where God is working. Yes I had to have surgery and it is costing some money in bills, however had I not had that surgery the spot that was removed could have turned into cancer which would have cost more money. My accident happened and it wasn't a good thing that I wrecked my van (God provided that van for just the right amount of money and we paid cash for it) However the good thing that has come out of it is that I have a wonderful family helping to provide a vehicle for us to drive while we save to get ours fixed. We have been able to pay all our bills and I am also setting aside money for the van we have food on the table and a roof over our heads so many blessings. One other little miracle that happened in there was with Elizabeth's gymnastics. We signed a contract at the beginning of the season and are obligated for a certain amount of money even if we quit so it wouldn't have saved us much to quit when we ran into these issues. right at the same time we had a payment of $289.32 due to our booster account because we didn't fund raise enough before the date it was due. So that weekend I had my yard sale and made $290 Totally a blessing that god provided just enough. :o) It is always amazing that no matter what happens God will always provide and even if it is a bad situation God can turn it into something good! I challenge any of you to take the bad in your life and look for the good and see what blessings God has hidden there for you to find!

Inspired by a sermon

The sermon this morning in church went so well with the theme of my blog. Pastor spoke on what is the mission of the church and pointed to Matthew 28:16-20 The Great Commission 
¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The pastor spoke on what it is the church's mission is and it all boils down to exactly what is written here in this passage. He also said one other thing that stuck out in my mind that this commission was not made just for the disciples but for ALL Christians. Therefor if I am a christian and I am a part of the church then this also has to be part of my purpose. Not just part but I am really feeling that I need to make this a priority. I am not saying that I need to go out and search for people to make into disciples, I need to start here in my own home with my own children. Teaching them how to be disciples and showing them how to follow God in their own lives. I go back to one of my favorite passages that I have quoted on this blog before. Titus 2:4-5
⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 

I can teach my children not only through Bible study and prayer but through my example of how I live my life and how I serve God. My children love God and they love going to church but I also want them to know God and to know what it means to serve him. To ad-lib our pastor this morning he said "making disciples is Jesus' plan for reaching the world and if we skip a generation then the cycle will be broken and a whole generation will end up in hell."  I don't want my kids to be the missed generation!

God knows

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

How many times do I forget this scripture? Tonight I found out that I need to have surgery to remove some abnormal cells for biopsy.  I am a worrier naturally and I always have been but through all theses testes and Dr's visits God has really been teaching me to hand it over to him. The last couple of days I have had a peace in my heart that everything will be okay. It is in his hands and he will always take care of me.

Here is a good example of God knowing wihat is best for me. I was searching for a job this fall and I sent out many many resumes. My fist call was from a Dr's office in a neighboring town and all though the Job was offered to me I wouldn't make enough to be able to accept it. My second call was from a good friend at church and I went for a day and observed and remembered that I really don't do well in the food service industry. My third offer came from Wal-mart and I actually said yes to this position however I only worked one day because that same day another job was offered to me that I saw as better it was full time in a factory. For some reason the factory kept putting me off and putting me off for my start date in in that time period I was offered the perfect job. Part time flexible hours it's wonderful. So why do I tell you all of this, it's because God knew. He knew the perfect job was out there and he knew that it wasn't ready for me yet so he took me on a journey where I got to pray for people and meet new people and spend time with a good friend and spend the holidays with my family and not working. Trust in God and he will lead you where you need to go in life. He will provide for you and he will prepare your path.

Proverbs 3:5-6

  ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

Life revolves around God not You!

This is an interesting thought, I have been so busy this past week worrying about what may come or what people are saying or doing or what I may be doing to upset those people that I forgot my main goal in this journey is to do what it is God wants for our family. There are many examples just from the past week and maybe even further back, however many of them involve others and I don't choose to point fingers so I will focus on my own selfish act. Tuesday last week I went in for a biopsy I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect to hear as I sit here on Wednesday evening the following week still having not heard from the Dr I feel nervous about what the results might be. I find myself looking at my phone almost willing it to ring so finally my husband takes it away and soon after tells me to read Matthew chapter 6. I say to him the sermon on the mount I know. He says the last 6 verses are just what I need and they read,    ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Many people may say that this is a natural reaction to be worried and nervous and I believe a little of this is not a problem however mine has taken over all of my thoughts and actions until this evening when #1 my husband gave me this passage to read and #2 I got a beautiful card from our church with many encouraging messages on it. both of which lead to this blog. The worry and nervousness didn't get me anywhere it didn't get anything accomplished at all. but to read God's word and to see that the worry is not needed and he will take care no matter what the outcome gives me great peace. So the question I pose to myself and all of you as well Who will you choose to have your life revolve around Yourself which will lead to anxiety and worry or God who will lead you to peace and understanding?

Easter! I am so thankful for the gift of Jesus!

Matthew 28:5-7 "The angel said to the woman 'Do not be afraid for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you'".

I am trying to writ this blog and nothing seems to be coming out right I know what I want to say and I know the thoughts I have in my head but the words do not seem to look well in print. Then I thought why am I really worried about sharing what is on my heart today and I think that maybe it is because I am afraid of offending someone or making someone feel bad. Well the truth is the truth so here goes what is on my heart.

Easter time is observed by many, some observe it by going to spend time with there family's visiting the Easter bunny giving baskets and hunting for eggs. Others observe it by going to church as one of there few times a year they attend. Some observe it by being at every service offered during the season of Easter. Some take time to spend with their family and eat lots of food.

Many of these things are not wrong or frowned upon by myself in general I believe it's good to go to church and spend time with your family. However the reason for Easter is not for these reasons alone. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and on the third day he rose again our God is a living God and he deserves 100% of our focus not only at Easter but all year round. So as you may be planning that meal with the family or getting ready to go to church make sure that in all you do you Praise him and thank him for what he did.

John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son."

Being healthy is important

God wants us to do our best for him, and he says in his word that our bodies are a temple in at least 3 scriptures that I can recall. 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" Then in 6 :19 it says "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your won;" and in 2 Corinthians 6:16 it says "What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For you are the temple of the living God as God has said 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

It is important to know that we are the temple of God so that we can treat ourselves as such. However these verses are only half of the story If we read on in each passage we will see how we are to treat the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 3:17 "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred and you are that temple." 6:20 says "you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty"   

There is much background info here that one may need to know to understand about the temple to sum it up in what I like to call the short Andrea Version. When you entered the temple you brought your best you wore your best and you gave your best.  Back to 2 Corinthians in chapter 9 verses 6-8 "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things you will abound in every good work." Most people look to this verse when they are talking about giving monetarily or tithing however it is a wonderful verse to look at when we are referring to ourselves and what we are to give to God and how we are to treat his temple. If we put into our bodies junk and don't exercise we are going to get the effort in return in the way our bodies look and feel. (just in case you were wondering I am talking to myself as well.)  However if we put in the best and give our best to exercise then we will get our best.

I have felt horrible for months it has been hard for me to get up and do what I know I need to do to take care of myself and my family and although I do have a few medical concerns that have nothing to do with healthy eating and exercise in the last few weeks that I have been trying to drink more water, exercise everyday, and take quiet time with the Lord in the mornings I have felt quite a bit better and able to glorify Him more often in my life. Doing work for God is what my purpose is for me and my life and in that I need to take care of my family first I have figured out that much and to think how much better I could do this if I were running at 100% everyday instead of the 75% I have right now. I will leave tonight with one last verse it is 1 Peter 4:11 "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God, if anyone serves, he should do it with with the strength God provides, so that in ALL THINGS God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

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just a couple of links you might be interested in

5K John and I will be participating in anyone is welcome to join us
  http://www.toledozoo.org/events/dartfrogdash.html

And the podcast I am using to work myself from a walk to a run
       http://runningmatemedia.com/

                                                                                   

God's Plan

Titus 2:4-5 "...teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." (KJV) 

Well lets just say one word CONVICTED! Yes that's me, this verse showed up many times this week through my studies. In the book I am reading, Managers of Their Chores in a morning Bible reading time and while browsing a web page. I think God is trying to get a point across. I like it best in the KJV I love the wording of the verse. I have been looking for God's purpose for my life and I really think at this point in my life it is all in these 2 verses. So next comes the question what things do I need to change in my life and in my household to make this purpose reality in my life and my family's life? 

the First step I think is to put the idea in my own words of what I think this verse is telling me for my life right now. Love my husband and children I do pretty good with however I do need to work a bit on my patients. I am praying about that daily and I ask that if you find the time to join me in that prayer I really think it will help not only in loving my family better but also the goals I have to teach my children to be responsible and live for God. to be discreet, I have to say I am struggling with the meaning of this a little does it mean in the way to dress or the way you act or a combination of both? I really need to pray and research this part of the scripture. keepers at home is one I have never been good at I truly wish to be good at it though and I am trying very hard to get there. I am doing so much better than 3 years ago my husband will tell you I have gotten much better just in the last couple of months. However I still have a long way to go. Obedient to my husband is not easy for me, I like to have things my way and it frustrates me very much when he has ideas I don't like so here I need to work more on respecting what he has to say and following instead of trying to lead.

As you can see God has given me a lot to work on and pray about I am scared and excited all at the same time to see what it is he has in store for me over the next few weeks. Keep reading my posts I am sure the will just keep getting more and more interesting  :o)

An experiment for myself (getting me closer to God's Purpose)

So a few posts previous I blogged about time and how we should best use it. God has really been convicting me that I spend way too much time doing nothing on the computer (facebook mostly). So here is my plan from now until who knows when. I plan to Blog 1 time a day because I really think that it is a ministry God has given me to share this journey with others. I also plan to check my facebook one time in the morning and one time in the evening because I have a ministry there as well that I don't want to abandon completley (at some point I will share it and all the blessings that have came with it but for now I would like to keep it to myself). Anytime I feel the need to use facebook because I am "Bored" or have nothing better to do I will #1 pick up my Bible and begin to read and or #2 find something constructive and beneficial to do to help benefit my family or others around me. My Blogs will still be posted to my facebook daily as well because I think that is where most of my readers come from. I really feel that this is the right thing to do at this point in my life. It's very hard to search for God and his plan when you spend so much time doing almost nothing in front of a computer. God wants us to focus our attention on him and I am 100% ready to take the time to spend with God and find out what it is I need to do to better serve him. 

Goal left out but not forgotten

"Let all things be done decently and in order." 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV) 

about 2 years ago two wonderful friends came into my home and helped me get it clean and organized and everything they did is still visible in my home. I am blessed and thankful for them.  Well we didn't do the whole house that week so some of the areas that were not worked on are still in quite bad shape and need a lot of work. So the missing Goal form my first post is Get home all the way organized. So how am I going to go about this without the help of my wonderful friends who helped me 2 years ago? Well I have already started and so far it is working great! I am using a book called Survival for Busy Women by Emille Barnes and in it it suggest organizing 15 min at a time I am quite busy so I usually only fit one 15 min session in a day but on a good day I may fit 2 or three I have successfully organized my desk so far as well as my bathroom,  TV stand and video cabinet. My next project will be my bedroom then I need to do the closet dining room dresser and basement. As it will take a few months I am sure I will update on my progress whenever I can. God will be able to work so much better in our home when we are free of the clutter that surrounds us! :o)

Everyday seems to have a lesson.

Well I asked God to help me find my purpose for him and he sure is doing it. since I have started this journey I have learned something new about myself or God everyday! :o) Today I have a sick little lady at home and she gave us quite a scare this evening when her temp spiked up to 104.8 and her breathing was very quick and clearly she was struggling. As I am on the phone with the Dr telling him all her symptoms and what led up to them at the same time I was praying for my little girl. The Dr advised a trip to the ER so we packed her up and took her there and we were in and out with a diagnosis very quickly. She is not fixed but hopefully in a few days time she will be much better.

So my learning experience here goes back to my theme verse Romans 8:28 "And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  You may also want to know what good could come from an ER visit with your child. Well I am going to tell you. First of all we know that Rebekah will be fine, and second I was able to pray for a friends daughter who had to be brought in as we were leaving. I truly believe God puts us in the right place at the right time and that I needed to pray for that little girl and her mom. So lesson learned today make sure you are paying attention so you don't miss the opportunity to help someone or pray for someone in their time of need.

Time! What does God want us to do with our Time?

This past weeks I had two situations that cam about and both involved time. Both were misunderstandings and I handled both incredibly well as it would have been easy not to. The first was a case of mistaken pick up time at the gym and when I went and saw Lizzy had been sitting in the lobby for 25 min waiting for me and no one had called I was very upset. I could have easily went straight to the source and showed all of my upset and angry emotions but instead I decided to go home and cool off before I approached anyone on the subject. After a while of thought I wrote an email saying I would have liked if someone called and I got a very nice apology explaining the misunderstanding back. The second incident was with practice at the church on Wednesday night for the kids we got an email on Tuesday about time being 7pm then at 4:30 wed I got a facebook saying 6:30 I was quite upset and had an angry reply all typed out ready to send and decided not to worry about it to just have my kids at the church and be glad I wasn't late if I was early. and I am glad that I didn't reply because 15 min later came a reply that they were mistaken and it was 7.

So why do I tell these stories about time? In these cases I took the time to thing about what I was going to do or say in a situation and no one got hurt or offended by an angry outburst. Time is important because God only gives us so much of it to use. So what does God want us to use our time doing? This has been a struggle with me because I like doing things for me I will admit it. I am working on a Bible study right now on purpose and one thing I have learned is that God wants us to be our best FOR him. In every thing we do! There are things that need to be done every day but what you do with your extra time is what is important. There is time for you do do stuff for you too you just have to watch what it is you are doing if you are for instance spending money you don't have to get a pedicure it's probably not good me time or if you choose to read or watch something that may not be pleasing to God that most likely wouldn't be good either. 

You see I say these things from experience I have begged my husband to take me out when we didn't have money in the past just because it would make me happy and that is a selfish use of his time. Looking back a better alternative would be a trip to a park to talk a walk together or a night in with home made diner and a video. So as I am taking this jaunt towards knowing God's purpose time is one area I would like to work on. What are some ways you can see someone like me using their free time to glorify God? 

Ever had one of "those" days?

So my journey is to find God's purpose. Well this morning I am sure I figured out what it isn't. It's Saturday and not much was scheduled for our family today except gymnastics from 10-12 so I set my alarm for 7:45 am in hopes to get a little "extra" sleep. Well to make a long story short I was awaken at 6:30 am (not by a child) and that started the attack of the grumps. I forgot to do my Bible study and prayer time and that didn't help either I could just feel the attacks coming all morning . I know one purpose I have is to be a loving and caring wife and mother and this morning I messed that up quite a bit. It was like someone took over my whole self I was grumpy and yelling and just not nice. 

So what have I learned? #1 Don't forget quiet time in the morning and #2 I really need to make more of an effort on the wife and mom side (if I must admit more on the wife side Johnboy got the brunt of my meanness this morning) This is a short post but I thought that by sharing my struggles maybe it will help the lessons learned sink in just a little more. 

Fun WIth Chore Packs

Chore Packs I can not take credit for this idea but I love it and although there are some glitches in my system I am excited to see how it goes. The first place I heard about Chore Packs was in the Duggars book 20 and counting and I also saw them used on the show a couple of times. In the back of the book is the resource they found the idea in and it is a book called Managers of Their Chores by Stephen and Teri Maxwell and when I saw that my system I had came up with by reading and seeing the Duggars use it I decided that I would purchase the book online and I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival at this time. 

However even with my flawed method my kids are doing so much better at keeping up with their responsibilities. I break them down into three parts of the day 
morning (includes all of the stuff to get ready for the day like eat breakfast and get dressed and brush teeth) 

Afternoon (homework clean room and the room they are responsible for that week) Let me take a moment to say that I have had a few people say that I shouldn't have my kids cleaning my house and I should let them be kids and I must say that each of their chore pack for the afternoon ends in Free Time so it's up to them how much they get If they work well and steady it only take them a little over an hour to complete their chores depending on how much homework they have. 

Bedtime is all the stuff that needs to get them ready to sleep (devotions, pick out clothes, pack up book bag ect.). So many people may doubt that my kids don't have any fun because I make them clean the house they really have plenty of time for fun and are learning to contribute to a household and be responsible at the same time. 

How does this go with finding God's purpose for me you may ask? Well I am a mom and God entrusted me with these three beautiful children to raise up and become responsible adults who love the Lord. This really helps in that process. :o) 

here is the website where you can find the Maxwell's book
http://www.titus2.com/ecommerce/products/prod_listing.php/1150

her is a link to the Duggar family website where you can find their book and lots of other resources as well

http://www.duggarfamily.com/aboutus.html

Welcome

Starting a blog can be a big deal, I have tried it once or twice and failed miserably because I wasn't devoted enough to keep up with it. Not with this one though because you see I have started a new and wonderful journey that I would love to invite people to read about. The Name of this blog is Roman's 8:28 and it is my theme for this journey I am partaking in and it reads "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." That last word Purpose is what my journey is all about discovering and finding what God's purpose is for me in my life and the life of all in my family. 

Now you may say how do I plan to partake in this adventure? What steps will get me to the goal in the end? I think to know your purpose first you need to work on truly knowing God. The only way to do that is through Study of his word and prayer. So for the past 2 weeks I have been starting and ending my days in bible study and prayer I have laxed on two different days and slept in or fell asleep without my study time but for the most part have done quite well at this. Although due to problems that may come about or health concerns I may have my days may not all be truly wonderful (may I add that god never promised that our lives would be easy) The time in study and prayer have truly mad a difference in the way I approach each day. I find myself remembering this I have read or just praying to God in the middle of the day like an open phone call that never ends.

Romans 8:28 starts out with the phrase "in all things" I truly believe that all aspects of my life need to line up with God and Glorify him so here are some Goals I have for the month . 

Memorize one scripture a week
Drink plenty of water
walk everyday and be up to a mile by the end of the month
let me add that this one is leading towards a goal of running a 5K
Work with my kids learning their new chore pack system
I will blog about this in a seprate post

So hopefully you can see that in all areas of my life I would like to better serve him by being healthier having more energy helping my kids learn service, responsibility and obedience and most importantly learning his word and hiding it in my heart so that I can know him better and find his purpose for me . 

I hope you will find this journey interesting and that you will follow it closly Many Blessings to you all.