Update on God's blessings

Well it has been a while since my last post. I have settled in my job & love it. It will be 3 months on the 28^th. After working 1 month I realized I was spending a lot of money on gas. How about $160 in gas? That is a lot. So I made a decision to figure out a way to take the city bus. To ride the bus for a month it cost $30 for a month pass. Not bad, it’s better than $160. When I talked to my friends about what I was going to do God then turned the $30 a month to nothing. My friend is providing me with a free pass every month. What a blessing she is. Now all I pay is driving to the transit center which is 10 miles. I haven’t tallied how much money I spend on gas now but I’m sure it is around $50 a month. Before I even thought about taking the bus I was even looking for a second job as was John. But I guess God didn’t want us to take on a 2^nd job. Even though I am saving on gas money things are still a little tight and we have to be careful on what we buy. If you really want something and you say God do I really need this and the answer is no, don’t buy it. We have probably ate out twice in 2 months & that was just Sonic & McD’s. But it still cost money. Whenever I feel myself getting overwhelmed & worried about whether I can pay my bills I am taken back to a bible verse I read in Phillipians 4:6-18. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. This is Paul’s advice; turn your worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop & pray. It doesn’t matter what you are doing, how often you do it, or where you’re at. The Bible says Pray without ceasing. My husband John told me once he went to sleep one night saying his prayers and woke up in the middle of the night still praying. You can do your work and still talk to God. He is our father and wants to talk to us just as we love to talk to our children.

I was telling one of my co-workers the adventures I’ve had on the bus and she said I should blog it. So I am going to try my hardest to blog more and tomorrow

I will bring everyone up to date on my 2 months of riding the bus.

God's Protection

I realized something the other day and I’ve been meaning to post this
But you know how it is when you go back to work. You have no time.
I have come to believe that sometimes God keeps things from us to protect us.
When I started my new job it was 6 months to the day that I lost my last job.
I was told I could draw unemployment up to a year. I filed one more time on
Umemployment because it was going to be a few weeks before I got paid. What
I didn’t know was I had exhausted my benefits one week before I was to receive
My first check. If I had known my unemployment was getting ready to run out I would
Have started worrying and flipping out. But God kept that from me and I didn’t loose
Peace of mind. I’m thankful God does those things for us. There may be times when
We wonder what God is up to and why certain things happen or don’t happen. But
God can see what may not be good about the situation and he protects us from it.
I once knew a girl who was a wonderful young Christian girl. She was around 25 years
Old. Her fiancée was a missionary in a foreign country and she would join him when
He came out to get married. She had a wreck but she seemed to be ok. The hospital
Cleared her but within a week a hidden blood clot made its way to her brain. They said
She would never wake up. It was such a tragedy and everyone grieved. So many people
Who knew her asked why God could let this happen to one of his most devoted servants.
I’ll never forget what my husband said when I told him this. He said we will never know the
Reason but it may be that God loved her so much he was sparing her life from something so
Awful that she would have to endure. I know she is in a better place and I’m glad that she
Never had to suffer the things we suffer here on earth. So the next time you find yourself
Wondering why things do or do not happen just take consolation that God knows things you
Don’t and he may be protecting you from something you don’t need to be involved in.

God is Good All the Time

Well its been a while since I blogged. I've been really busy with kids, husband, errands, cooking, you get the idea. For a week now I have just felt so awesome. I just know God is doing something and it will come to pass soon. I had a job interview a little over a week ago and it went great! I left there feeling my chances to get this job were great. So when I received a call from one of my references I listed I felt even greater. Because if they weren't interested in me they wouldn't have called a reference. This past Monday I received a phone call from an insurance company who wanted me to come in for a interview. I worked insurance years ago and didn't really care for it. Maybe it was because the boss left a bad taste in my mouth. But anyway when the insurance co. called I told them I had a job and wouldn't be interested in coming in. I said this without really thinking about it but deep down I believed I would get this job. In the past when I've been really sure about getting a job another offer comes on the table and I wonder which job God wants me to have. It never fails that this happens and I think it's because God is testing me to see if I know which one he wants me to have. Now I have had a concern that I picked wrong but that's were you have to have faith that you did the right thing. In this case I believe I did the right thing and truly believe in this job. I find out hopefully by tomorrow if I get the job. But if I missed the mark I know God has something for me and I just have to trust in him to show me.

God's Will

You're probably thinking she's on a roll. Two blogs in 2 days. After I typed my blog yesterday and prayed to God to commit things to him I should have done a long time ago, I received a email for a job I applied for almost a month ago. How cool is that! So I say "God I've been praying for certain jobs and I closed the door on you by saying I will not do this. I am ready & willing do go & do whatever you want me to. Two hours later I got the email and from the job I really wanted. I went in for the interview this morning and felt so comfortable. I was in my element. We talked for 1 hour and they said they would call me. I have had several interviews in the last few months but I was not comfortable like I was today. I can't say what the job is yet but I really feel like this is what God wants for me. And doors might open for John in the future if I get this job. Sometimes when we feel like this is what God wants, the devil tries to move in and destroy those opportunities. It is during this time that we should be in a constant state of prayer for God's will to be done. Even though I really want this job I know God will let me find favor in the hearts of those interviewing. That is what I pray for that they seek God and hear what he has to say. Even if that means I don't get the job. I know he is in control and he see's things I may not see. He may be protecting me from something or preparing me for where he wants me.

I look above my desk to the Bible verse I wrote down so I'm reminded that I should commit everything I do unto the Lord, trust him & he will help me.

God's Blessings

Well it has been over a week since I blogged. I can't begin to explain how busy I have been. I have been nurse maid for about 3 weeks. John has went from one illness to another. Ben had a
respiratory virus and missed a week of school. Mary luckily had it one day. But thank God I didn't catch any of it. In between that, picking up kids from school, trying to help John with his
homework, & normal household stuff I have barely had time to do my facebook everyday. And of course I am still on the look out for a job. One thing I'm learning about looking for a job this time is that it seems to be harder. And never tell God what you won't do because more than likely he will convict you to do it. Before the days of working Mon-Fri 8 hour days I worked in retail. I have management experience and if you are a manager you know that the hours are crazy. My first management experience was working for a bookstore chain called Books-A-Million. I really loved that job because I love books. But I got out of that because I never saw my husband or kids. The kids were still little at the time. After that I managed a small clothing store which was great. There were no shifts working past midnight. I was home most days by 7:00. But now I'm seeing there are office jobs but not many. It is usually low pay, a long commute, or they are looking for certain skills. God has always blessed me with the job I know he wanted me to have but employers today don't care if you are fast learner. They want someone with experience. I always try to point out to them that every job I've ever taken I didn't have all the qualifications but I always learned what was required of me. But I know God will give me the job he wants me to have, I just hope it's this month. God has been faithful to stretch our money and give us extra when we need it but sometimes I let fear & worry cloud my vision. I have this Bible verse on a sticky note that I read everyday. It says "Commit everything you do unto the Lord. Trust him and he will help you!" Psalm 37:5. I believe that with all my heart but sometimes I let the devil sneak in. So this morning I looked at my checking account and laid my hand on it and prayed Lord you know the amount of money we need to pay our bills this month and I give my account to you and trust you provide.

I am reminded of all that I have to be thankful for. This past Friday, Sept. 11 I celebrated the birthday of my firstborn, Mary. I thank God for the 15 years I've had with her and look forward for many more. We celebrated her birthday with her friends at youth group. She has such a great group of Christian friends & leaders. I thank God that she has found a great group of kids to share her love Jesus with. I dated John for 2 months then we got engaged. We married 7 months later and have been married 18 years. I can't imagine my life without him. I have a wonderful 13 year old son who is a joy to watch grow up. Wonderful in-laws who I consider not my in-laws but my parents. And I still have my mother, sister, niece, her husband & kids. I miss them as well as aunts & uncles. So I say this to you, treasure the people you still have in your life. They won't always be there but make great memories to remember them by.

Remember what I said about trying to write something everyday? Well it probably won't happen. Especially when you have a sick husband & 2 sick kids. On Monday I picked Ben up
early at school. He had a bad sore throat. So I took him to the Dr. and it turns out it is a viral
infection. He has since then got a little worse. He has a bad cough that sounds congested, his throat still hurts, & he is having allergy attacks on top of that. His eyes swell up and turn red from time to time. So I will probably be taking him back to the Dr. tomorrow. Yesterday Mary got up not feeling to good. But if you know Mary like I do she went on to school but I ended up picking her up at lunch time. She was having a hard time breathing and her asthma inhaler wasn't helping & she had a fever. Her Dr. said as long as she had a fever she had to stay home since it was viral. Needless to say she was not happy. She actually argued with the Dr. John was still unable to go today. His cough is really bad. It is so bad that he almost passes out from coughing so hard. But with that being sad you can see why I haven't had a lot of time.

One good thing that has happened this week is for Mary. Her favorite music group Secondhand Serenade will be here Sunday night in concert. Her boyfriend Aaron is buying both of our tickets so we can go for her birthday. Mary is very excited and so am I. They really are a good music group. But I have a different kind of excitement for going. I am 37 years old and this is my first music concert to ever go to. I'm just glad it's someone I like. I'm glad I get to share that time with my daughter.

I would also like for everyone who reads this to remember a group of people for me. I just found out that the last job I had they laid off 27 employees this week. I know how they feel and I hope that they will be able to get back on their feet.

I hope you all have a great evening.

Worries

I woke up on this Monday morning having a bad start to the day. I then go downstairs to take Mary to the bus and she informs me she overslept 30 minutes. For Mary that is a big deal. She then checks her backpack and discovers her PE shirt is missing. We look for it but come up empty. I take her on to the bus upset. I come back get John & Ben's breakfast and lunch ready
for them to go to school. In the meantime I find Mary's shirt & take it to the school so she won't get in trouble. I get back home to try and turn this day into a better one. Only to check my finances and pay a few bills do I start to panic & worry. To calm myself down I grab my Bible and start looking for verses to help me. I read Psalm 34 which is really good. But the one that really helps me is Matthew 6:25-34. Verse 25 says: "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you hve enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? He goes on to say that he feeds the birds. And aren't we far more valuable to him than the birds are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? As for me I have food, drink, & clothing. If God cares for wildflowers won't he certainly care for us? Verse 31 says "So don't worry about these things, saying "What will we eat? Drink?or Wear? Verse 32 says "These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly father ALREADY KNOWS ALL YOUR NEEDS. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and HE WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

So live one day at a time to keep from being consumed with worry. There are real challenges God wants us to puruse, and worrying keeps us from them. Also worry shows a lack of faith & undertanding of God. It will hamper your efforts for today. I don't know what God has for me today but I want to be able to see it without worry clouding my vision. I hope today if you are experiencing this problem you will read this chapter and take to heart that God knows what we need before we even ask him. God bless & have a great day.