"If you are not willing to be misunderstood, you're not ready to be used by God."
Showing posts with label walking with Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walking with Christ. Show all posts
Sunday, May 2, 2010
what do you think??
I read this quote somewhere today,on twitter, I think & it just really made so much sense to me! What do you think?? True?? =)
Monday, January 18, 2010
Nothing....
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. NOTHING is too hard for you!!!!" (emphasis & exclamation points, mine) Jeremiah 32:17
Nothing. Not one single thing is too hard for our GOD. What does this mean in my life? How does this apply to MY current needs?? How about yours???
Sunday, January 17, 2010
New Year..New Goals!!
I have put a lot of thought into these and already I am struggling in most of these areas...nothing like growing pains! So, without further ado..my personal goals for the coming year and beyond...
*First of all, I want to get back to writing! Not just posting pictures and recipes but actual writing! Since the blessings of our children, my mind is oftentimes to cluttered with to-do's and lists and the constant merry-go-round of life to sit in silence and listen to what my Lord is telling me.I am a writer. God uses writing to cleanse me. I am one who loves to sit in the quiet late at night after everyone is in bed with just a lamp and my bible. I love to pray to God and I truly feel complete when I hear him speak to my heart!! I want more of that!! I want to carve out the time for more of my Savior. I oftentimes put him in the entirely wrong place. I want to make HIM my true first priority!!!
*I want more patience with my precious children. I am oftentimes short tempered and extremely irritable with those who are most dear to my heart. I so want to be a mother who is kind and soft spoken and warm and loving and patient.. I am those things, at times, but I truly desire for this to be me, at all times!!!! I hate when I lose my temper and yell at my children or say terrible things to them. Actually, I want to improve in this area with my husband, as well...
* I desire to be a more dedicated, loving wife. I truly want to be 100% focused on my family first and foremost and my husband before all other things in life. I want to pray for him every single day and I wish for more focused time together as a couple. I want to talk more and learn more every day about my wonderful husband.
*I want to stop eating when I am upset. Chewing my nails really needs to go, as well!! Yuck!! I am going to have to learn to put things in their proper place and truly leave everything up to our Heavenly Father.
* To exercise at least 3 days a week. With homeschooling, this is VERY difficult to achieve but I am determined to give it a try...also, cutting out unhealty carbs and cokes. Trying to make healthier choices and stick with them. I am going to keep a journal of what I eat and see if I can keep up with it better, that way.
* To be a better friend. I want to make sure that others know just how important they are to me! How much I truly love them and are grateful and sooooo blessed to have them in my life!! Please, more time to focus on my friends and family!!
*MUCH LESS time on facebook!!! I hate being sucked in by the internet and I find it happening to me, more and more. I need much more time to focus on so many other things in my life...the important things!! Facebook is such a struggle for me. I think it becomes something that we, as woman, especially, become to rely on for validation.(another post on this coming up, I think!) And, that is dangerous. Don't get me wrong, facebook can be great when it is used in moderation and as an occasional thing. I don't want to be so stuck on the computer that I forget to live life and give my family what they NEED.......which is, well, more of ME!! How can I give them that when I am stuck on the computer?? Not talking to anyone but myself, these are MY goals and MY personal struggles! If you have it all balanced, I am going to give you kuddos!!! That's great!!
*We are starting some debt reducing solutions this year. I plan to do a post about those, soon! I am going to be doing some RADICAL things in this area to pay off our mortgage a few years quicker!! (More to come, soon!)
*Reading, more reading!! (for me and my family) This is always on my list. =D
*More playtime with my children. More deliberate planned time with them. If I can take time out to do these other things, I can plan a few blocks of time a week to do wonderful fun little things with my babies!
*Trying to be more real.I am soooo tired of all the "fake" we, as Christians, show everyone we meet! You may not read my blog ever again but sometimes I feel like I have to be real and get some things out! I may work them out by writing (I do that a lot) and I may publish them or not..but, I feel like I need to share more. Not necessarily private things but just struggles I have as a normal wife and mother and most of all, as a follower of Jesus! If we don't show others that we struggle, they will never see God at work!! They will never see how he carries us, how HE delivers us!!! It's vital to show others our normal selves! VITAL!!
Well, I think I have many more but there's a start for you!! Happy New Year!!!!
~Julie~
*First of all, I want to get back to writing! Not just posting pictures and recipes but actual writing! Since the blessings of our children, my mind is oftentimes to cluttered with to-do's and lists and the constant merry-go-round of life to sit in silence and listen to what my Lord is telling me.I am a writer. God uses writing to cleanse me. I am one who loves to sit in the quiet late at night after everyone is in bed with just a lamp and my bible. I love to pray to God and I truly feel complete when I hear him speak to my heart!! I want more of that!! I want to carve out the time for more of my Savior. I oftentimes put him in the entirely wrong place. I want to make HIM my true first priority!!!
*I want more patience with my precious children. I am oftentimes short tempered and extremely irritable with those who are most dear to my heart. I so want to be a mother who is kind and soft spoken and warm and loving and patient.. I am those things, at times, but I truly desire for this to be me, at all times!!!! I hate when I lose my temper and yell at my children or say terrible things to them. Actually, I want to improve in this area with my husband, as well...
* I desire to be a more dedicated, loving wife. I truly want to be 100% focused on my family first and foremost and my husband before all other things in life. I want to pray for him every single day and I wish for more focused time together as a couple. I want to talk more and learn more every day about my wonderful husband.
*I want to stop eating when I am upset. Chewing my nails really needs to go, as well!! Yuck!! I am going to have to learn to put things in their proper place and truly leave everything up to our Heavenly Father.
* To exercise at least 3 days a week. With homeschooling, this is VERY difficult to achieve but I am determined to give it a try...also, cutting out unhealty carbs and cokes. Trying to make healthier choices and stick with them. I am going to keep a journal of what I eat and see if I can keep up with it better, that way.
* To be a better friend. I want to make sure that others know just how important they are to me! How much I truly love them and are grateful and sooooo blessed to have them in my life!! Please, more time to focus on my friends and family!!
*MUCH LESS time on facebook!!! I hate being sucked in by the internet and I find it happening to me, more and more. I need much more time to focus on so many other things in my life...the important things!! Facebook is such a struggle for me. I think it becomes something that we, as woman, especially, become to rely on for validation.(another post on this coming up, I think!) And, that is dangerous. Don't get me wrong, facebook can be great when it is used in moderation and as an occasional thing. I don't want to be so stuck on the computer that I forget to live life and give my family what they NEED.......which is, well, more of ME!! How can I give them that when I am stuck on the computer?? Not talking to anyone but myself, these are MY goals and MY personal struggles! If you have it all balanced, I am going to give you kuddos!!! That's great!!
*We are starting some debt reducing solutions this year. I plan to do a post about those, soon! I am going to be doing some RADICAL things in this area to pay off our mortgage a few years quicker!! (More to come, soon!)
*Reading, more reading!! (for me and my family) This is always on my list. =D
*More playtime with my children. More deliberate planned time with them. If I can take time out to do these other things, I can plan a few blocks of time a week to do wonderful fun little things with my babies!
*Trying to be more real.I am soooo tired of all the "fake" we, as Christians, show everyone we meet! You may not read my blog ever again but sometimes I feel like I have to be real and get some things out! I may work them out by writing (I do that a lot) and I may publish them or not..but, I feel like I need to share more. Not necessarily private things but just struggles I have as a normal wife and mother and most of all, as a follower of Jesus! If we don't show others that we struggle, they will never see God at work!! They will never see how he carries us, how HE delivers us!!! It's vital to show others our normal selves! VITAL!!
Well, I think I have many more but there's a start for you!! Happy New Year!!!!
~Julie~
Thursday, January 14, 2010
personally, Calgon's never done it for me (but God has!)...
“Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it— it does.” I Cor14:1 Loosen up. Don’t you have some people to hug, rocks to skip, or lips to kiss? . . .It’s time to retire. Not from your job, just retire from your attitude. Honestly, has complaining ever made the day better? Has grumbling ever paid the bills?...... Has worrying about tomorrow ever changed it?Let someone else run the world for a while.Max Lucado
Monday, January 11, 2010
a bit of wisdom from the late President Reagan...
“To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last — but eat you he will.” Ronald Reagan
thoughts, anyone?????
thoughts, anyone?????
Friday, January 8, 2010
The garden of our children's hearts...
From Today's Proverbs 31 ministries devotional:
What if we considered our children's hearts and lives as a garden? The principles of sowing and reaping apply as well. Every day we sow into those "gardens" through our words, behavior, and the disciplines we teach them. However, just like a vegetable garden, if we plant carrot seeds, we will reap carrots – not corn. Consequently, if we sow negative seeds of discouragement, we will reap despair. If we sow seeds of impatience, we will reap frustration. If we sow seeds of laziness, we will reap stress.
Conversely, if we sow healthy seeds of good choices, we will reap self-discipline. If we sow seeds of patience, we will reap peace. If we sow seeds of perseverance, we will reap success. Our children's hearts are rich soil prepared by God to receive good seed. As conscientious gardeners, we need to plant those that will reap a harvest in our children's lives and prepare them for service in the kingdom of God.
What if you don't see results right away? That's normal. After a few days, the farmer doesn't get frustrated with slow growth and rip the seeds out of the ground. No. The farmer continues to water the soil, shoo the birds away, and pull the weeds. The farmer protects the seed until it has a chance to grow in its own time.
God designed our children to grow and flouris h with love and care. However, failure can be the weeds in our children's lives. Weeds don't destroy the good seed, they just leech the nutrients out of the soil limiting the growth of the plant. Failure doesn't destroy our children's potential; it just removes the enthusiasm from their hearts.
In order to overcome the pain and heartache of failure, children need a parent who will step in with fresh water and bright sunlight, while replacing the weeds with healthy seed. With this tender care, perseverance and self-discipline will grow and develop. Then in time, our children will produce a harvest of confidence. May we be gardeners who don't give up until the harvest.
Dear Lord, I praise You for Your almighty power and wisdom. Thank You for making me with potential to grow and change. Help me to see that same potential in those I love and to become a gardener of healthy seed in their lives. Help me to see failure as something to overcome, not stop me for a live of obedience. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
*Now, I am off to sow some good seeds!!! Have a blessed day!!
~Julie~
What if we considered our children's hearts and lives as a garden? The principles of sowing and reaping apply as well. Every day we sow into those "gardens" through our words, behavior, and the disciplines we teach them. However, just like a vegetable garden, if we plant carrot seeds, we will reap carrots – not corn. Consequently, if we sow negative seeds of discouragement, we will reap despair. If we sow seeds of impatience, we will reap frustration. If we sow seeds of laziness, we will reap stress.
Conversely, if we sow healthy seeds of good choices, we will reap self-discipline. If we sow seeds of patience, we will reap peace. If we sow seeds of perseverance, we will reap success. Our children's hearts are rich soil prepared by God to receive good seed. As conscientious gardeners, we need to plant those that will reap a harvest in our children's lives and prepare them for service in the kingdom of God.
What if you don't see results right away? That's normal. After a few days, the farmer doesn't get frustrated with slow growth and rip the seeds out of the ground. No. The farmer continues to water the soil, shoo the birds away, and pull the weeds. The farmer protects the seed until it has a chance to grow in its own time.
God designed our children to grow and flouris h with love and care. However, failure can be the weeds in our children's lives. Weeds don't destroy the good seed, they just leech the nutrients out of the soil limiting the growth of the plant. Failure doesn't destroy our children's potential; it just removes the enthusiasm from their hearts.
In order to overcome the pain and heartache of failure, children need a parent who will step in with fresh water and bright sunlight, while replacing the weeds with healthy seed. With this tender care, perseverance and self-discipline will grow and develop. Then in time, our children will produce a harvest of confidence. May we be gardeners who don't give up until the harvest.
Dear Lord, I praise You for Your almighty power and wisdom. Thank You for making me with potential to grow and change. Help me to see that same potential in those I love and to become a gardener of healthy seed in their lives. Help me to see failure as something to overcome, not stop me for a live of obedience. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
*Now, I am off to sow some good seeds!!! Have a blessed day!!
~Julie~
Slow Fade...
Slow Fade,by: Casting Crowns
Slow Fade:
Be careful little eyes what you see
It’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade,
it’s a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
*This song used to be on my playlist. I need to put it back up along with some others. I can never listen to it enough. I pray that those who open their hearts to these words may never forget the truth they hold. Be very careful, very, very, careful. Please.
Love to all,
Julie
Slow Fade:
Be careful little eyes what you see
It’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade,
it’s a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
*This song used to be on my playlist. I need to put it back up along with some others. I can never listen to it enough. I pray that those who open their hearts to these words may never forget the truth they hold. Be very careful, very, very, careful. Please.
Love to all,
Julie
Thursday, December 3, 2009
God in us!!!!!....
God in us! Have we sounded the depth of this promise?God was with Adam and Eve. God was with Abraham. God was with Moses and the children of Israel. God was with the apostles.But he is in you. You are a modern-day Mary. Even more so. He was a fetus in her, but he is a force in you. He will do what you cannot. Max Lucado
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Nearer, my God, to thee....
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I'd be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
3. There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
5. Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Grace....
Why do we, when it's the hardest, turn our backs on people? How many times have you heard, "That person is just not worth your time", "You could do so much better", "You do not have to take that", etc...
What ever happened to praying and believing in the redemption of that soul? In God's saving Grace????? What ever happened to being the hands and feet of Jesus??
There is nothing wrong with being part of the redeeming work of God.
As a sweet friend said recently,"My pain is nothing compared to their eternity"
And to that, I must say,
Amen.
What ever happened to praying and believing in the redemption of that soul? In God's saving Grace????? What ever happened to being the hands and feet of Jesus??
There is nothing wrong with being part of the redeeming work of God.
As a sweet friend said recently,"My pain is nothing compared to their eternity"
And to that, I must say,
Amen.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
what my children need from me....
pg. 33 "The Ministry of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson
"What matters to them is my loving presence............ And that's what my children need from me. If I want them to be open to my messages, I need to be willing to serve them-to voluntarily give up my rights and my time to meet their felt needs-just as Jesus was willing to give for his disciples."
This gave me something to think about for awhile... actually, from now on, may I never forget these words. Something I really needed to hear today.
"What matters to them is my loving presence............ And that's what my children need from me. If I want them to be open to my messages, I need to be willing to serve them-to voluntarily give up my rights and my time to meet their felt needs-just as Jesus was willing to give for his disciples."
This gave me something to think about for awhile... actually, from now on, may I never forget these words. Something I really needed to hear today.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Is God in my home?
Reading this today. Reading & dwelling there. Reflecting and studying myself and my actions and motives. I love Sally Clarkson. She writes some very inspired things and always I dig deeper to find more of myself to give to my family after I read one of her posts or a page from one of her books. She is just that inspiring. And this post, right here, well, God gave her a good word. That's for sure. Read this and be changed. Like I am today.
My prayers are with all wives and mothers tonight.
Love,
Julie
My prayers are with all wives and mothers tonight.
Love,
Julie
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Is America really this biblically illiterate?!
I would twitter this but no one is reading twitter right now! :) (Sis?) This was, I believe, the very first verse I ever learned. How about you? What do you think? I, personally, am very proud that he is wearing this on his face. Also, I do not think it is all America's fault that they are googling John 3:16 to find out what it is. I believe that the reason a lot of peple don't know is because Jesus' followers (aka..Christians) don't take the time, don't make it a priority, don't put out enough effort to serve those who don't know Christ. And by that, I mean, we don't show them what true Christianity is. True Christianity, being a follower of Christ, walking with Christ, is SERVING. I can't say that enough times. :) Acts of kindness, listening, just being there for someone......being a SERVANT. And by serving, by loving those who do not know the Lord, we are opening the way for their salvation. By doing this, we may make those who don't know the love of Christ, curious about HIS word. :)
That, folks, is my humble pitiful attempt to explain what I am feeling about this article! And, by the way, I AM SO GLAD THAT THEY WON!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am from Oklahoma but I am NOT an OU fan!!!!! I am an OSU FAN ALL THE WAY, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!! GO POKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I don't have orange as a text color option or I would have put that in ORANGE!!)
Have a great week!
Julie
*Kids are sleeping and have been for 2 hours. Please continue to pray. I really do appreciate all of your prayers & emails & phone calls. Feeling loved today!! :)
Monday, January 12, 2009
James 3 & spiritual battles..
The kids are all sleeping. They have just been sleeping on and off all morning and I can't sleep (to much caffeine so I could stay awake this morning & now I can't sleep) :(
I have pretty much quit trying to read the Bible chronologically for now. It's just too much jumping around to do when I need something right now(with 3 babies) that I can read quickly and focus on. (make sense?) So, I have been reading along with Amanda in James. We are on James 3 right now.
I am really enjoying reading along with her. James is really convicting me of some issues I need to deal with in my life at this point. It's not easy reading but it is what I need to do right now. Hopefully, I can share more with you about that later this week. I feel like I have walked around in a haze this past year and I am struggling so hard to break through it. I feel like God has so much in store for me that He wants for me but I feel like it is such a fight to get there. Spiritual battles have been VERY heavy lately.
Well, I have to go and get some things done. Just wanted to let you know I will be sharing more on what I am learning in James throughout the week. Today I am understanding just HOW MUCH evil my tongue can do.... more about that tomorrow. :)
Love you all,
Julie
I have pretty much quit trying to read the Bible chronologically for now. It's just too much jumping around to do when I need something right now(with 3 babies) that I can read quickly and focus on. (make sense?) So, I have been reading along with Amanda in James. We are on James 3 right now.
I am really enjoying reading along with her. James is really convicting me of some issues I need to deal with in my life at this point. It's not easy reading but it is what I need to do right now. Hopefully, I can share more with you about that later this week. I feel like I have walked around in a haze this past year and I am struggling so hard to break through it. I feel like God has so much in store for me that He wants for me but I feel like it is such a fight to get there. Spiritual battles have been VERY heavy lately.
Well, I have to go and get some things done. Just wanted to let you know I will be sharing more on what I am learning in James throughout the week. Today I am understanding just HOW MUCH evil my tongue can do.... more about that tomorrow. :)
Love you all,
Julie
Friday, January 2, 2009
order of events...
Charlie & I have decided to go with the chronological reading of the Bible (the order in which the books happened in history). If any of you want to join us, we will start tomorrow. You can email me if you would like to join us at mama2clairelily@gmail.com.
Have a great week & a blessed New Year!
Love,
Julie
*We will be using the KJV, the NIV and the NLT as we read. We just like to compare the different translations. We also will be using blueletterbible.com and biblegateway.com, searchGod'sword-Heartlight.org, and some others I will list later for commentary. Hope you join us! :)
Have a great week & a blessed New Year!
Love,
Julie
*We will be using the KJV, the NIV and the NLT as we read. We just like to compare the different translations. We also will be using blueletterbible.com and biblegateway.com, searchGod'sword-Heartlight.org, and some others I will list later for commentary. Hope you join us! :)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Some resolutions...
I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions because I am not very good at keeping them. However, this year, I see MANY things I need to change and focus on desperately, so I am giving this another try. One of my resolutions is to read the Bible all the way through. I have not decided in which order to do this yet. If you want to find a schedule of different ways that you can achieve this goal, click here. They also have some great tips on reading and understanding the Bible.
Another major thing that I am working on this year is my ability to just "love" someone in any circumstance. I believe that this is VERY important as a follower of Christ. I learning about myself that I am not as good at forgiving as I thought I was. I am also not very good at reaching out to those whom I do love. I also need to work on loving myself. I am very hard, very critical, very demanding of myself. I need to spend my time just really trying harder to see the good in everyone and that has to start with me. Hopefully, reading the Bible through (again) will carry me along in this goal. I believe that it will.
I have many more resolutions that I want to share with you and some ways that I plan to go about these goals. I will share them throughout the month as I have time. My computer time is up for today so I must go....
update on kids:
everyone is some better although Claire is still coughing (hacking) and Drew is still stuffed up with snot. I will be glad when the dr. can rule out anything. I worry about ear infections and RSV. Although, I do have a cousin who is a RN who can tell me if they do. She says it's not RSV so I know that I shouldn't worry. :) But, I do. Being a mommy, I guess.
Keep us in your prayers, please.
Love you all,
Julie
Another major thing that I am working on this year is my ability to just "love" someone in any circumstance. I believe that this is VERY important as a follower of Christ. I learning about myself that I am not as good at forgiving as I thought I was. I am also not very good at reaching out to those whom I do love. I also need to work on loving myself. I am very hard, very critical, very demanding of myself. I need to spend my time just really trying harder to see the good in everyone and that has to start with me. Hopefully, reading the Bible through (again) will carry me along in this goal. I believe that it will.
I have many more resolutions that I want to share with you and some ways that I plan to go about these goals. I will share them throughout the month as I have time. My computer time is up for today so I must go....
update on kids:
everyone is some better although Claire is still coughing (hacking) and Drew is still stuffed up with snot. I will be glad when the dr. can rule out anything. I worry about ear infections and RSV. Although, I do have a cousin who is a RN who can tell me if they do. She says it's not RSV so I know that I shouldn't worry. :) But, I do. Being a mommy, I guess.
Keep us in your prayers, please.
Love you all,
Julie
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Hello!.....
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! :) Thank you so much for the sweet cards and emails! Your Christmas/New Year cards should be arriving soon in your mailbox, if they haven't already. I am really sorry that I was so late getting them sent out. I tried.
We have had a wonderful Christmas! First of all, Charlie got a week off from work, unexpectedly. It wasn't great because it was a week without pay or unemployment (long story) but it was great because we got to spend a lot of time and have a fantastic Christmas week instead of a rushed week. Thank you, Lord, for that. See, there is good in everything, even financial difficulty. :)
So, our Christmas spending was cut back even more, but that's okay, because we just focused more on important things and the true meaning of the Christmas season. Charlie bought us the book, "The Love Dare", as one of our Christmas presents. We have just started doing this and already Satan has attacked us in almost every area of our marriage. It has been rough but it's funny, too, because we just fight back that much harder and WE are winning! If you haven't started this book, I cannot recommend anything any more than I can recommend this book! It's great!
The girls have had a fun filled time with their Daddy and with cousins and visiting family. It's been a wild week and we are looking forward to settling down this week and just getting back into our groove. :)
Charlie's dad is doing pretty good, considering. He has a really great attitude about everything. He's good like that. :) They did not find any cancer in his bones and it is a really early stage so, those are all great things. Hopefully, they can take care of it with radiation. Please continue to pray. We sure do appreciate all of your prayers. :)
We are looking at a rough year again. HOPEfully, things will improve finanacially and otherwise. We are praying and prayerfully considering some options available to us. Please pray for Charlie as he makes a lot of decisions for the future of our family. He really is trying so hard to seek God's will and direction in his life. I am SO proud of him and in all of almost 11 years (next week) of marriage, I have never seen him walk as closely to the Lord as I see him walking now. It gives me goosebumps just talking about it! :)
*Well, I have to go lay clothes out for church tomorrow and read my love dare for tomorrow and get some sleep. I will try to post pictures of our crazy kids and their wild antics at Christmas if I can get the computer to cooperate! (Because of the week off of work, I will have to wait a little while longer on our computer, that's okay, the Lord is sure teaching me how to wait patiently!) :)
Happy New Year!
Julie
We have had a wonderful Christmas! First of all, Charlie got a week off from work, unexpectedly. It wasn't great because it was a week without pay or unemployment (long story) but it was great because we got to spend a lot of time and have a fantastic Christmas week instead of a rushed week. Thank you, Lord, for that. See, there is good in everything, even financial difficulty. :)
So, our Christmas spending was cut back even more, but that's okay, because we just focused more on important things and the true meaning of the Christmas season. Charlie bought us the book, "The Love Dare", as one of our Christmas presents. We have just started doing this and already Satan has attacked us in almost every area of our marriage. It has been rough but it's funny, too, because we just fight back that much harder and WE are winning! If you haven't started this book, I cannot recommend anything any more than I can recommend this book! It's great!
The girls have had a fun filled time with their Daddy and with cousins and visiting family. It's been a wild week and we are looking forward to settling down this week and just getting back into our groove. :)
Charlie's dad is doing pretty good, considering. He has a really great attitude about everything. He's good like that. :) They did not find any cancer in his bones and it is a really early stage so, those are all great things. Hopefully, they can take care of it with radiation. Please continue to pray. We sure do appreciate all of your prayers. :)
We are looking at a rough year again. HOPEfully, things will improve finanacially and otherwise. We are praying and prayerfully considering some options available to us. Please pray for Charlie as he makes a lot of decisions for the future of our family. He really is trying so hard to seek God's will and direction in his life. I am SO proud of him and in all of almost 11 years (next week) of marriage, I have never seen him walk as closely to the Lord as I see him walking now. It gives me goosebumps just talking about it! :)
*Well, I have to go lay clothes out for church tomorrow and read my love dare for tomorrow and get some sleep. I will try to post pictures of our crazy kids and their wild antics at Christmas if I can get the computer to cooperate! (Because of the week off of work, I will have to wait a little while longer on our computer, that's okay, the Lord is sure teaching me how to wait patiently!) :)
Happy New Year!
Julie
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
This made me cry...
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Studying 1 Corinthians..
*I am going to be studying 1 Corinthians next week and try to post some of the results of my studying. So, if you want to join me, I will begin reading this week and start posting hopefully this Saturday or Sunday. So, have your comments ready. Starting with Chapter 1. I just feel that the Corinthians lived in a society and a culture that is eerily close to what we are seeing more and more of today.
*Hmmmm.....food for thought? :)
Also, I am going to publish a "things I am thankful for" on my sidebar starting tomorrow, adding to it daily through the month of November. Stay tuned.....
Love,
Julie
*Hmmmm.....food for thought? :)
Also, I am going to publish a "things I am thankful for" on my sidebar starting tomorrow, adding to it daily through the month of November. Stay tuned.....
Love,
Julie
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I'm under attack...
*edited to say: I know that people love me, that friends and family love me. Deep down I know that. This is just the battle that I fight every day with myself. Not anything that anyone has or hasn't done!
Charlie and I went to see Fireproof on Sunday night. It was, as I already said, in a word, AWESOME!!! It has been life changing for us! I am seeing things in my husband that I have prayed for and now they are coming true! Last night was a very huge moment for us. Charlie took me down on the floor with him on our knees and he prayed over us. :) I cannot stop crying today. Just tears of absolute joy everytime I think of my precious husband and how he is trying so hard to be the husband/father he is called to be, how his heart is so tender towards me now and most important, He is walking with Christ every step of the way! :)
We are going through some major things right now and I am not afraid. Charlie is standing up and taking control and I am SO proud of my husband! However, the problem is with me.
Satan is atttacking me; big time. I have a major self pity thing going on. I am not able to focus so well when I am in prayer. I just feel like I need to sleep and have no urge to take care of my family or my home. Sounds bad, huh? But, I have to admit it. I must get this out so that Satan has NO power over my mind. I have learned exactly what to do to make him go away! ;)
I am just in a major funk. I feel like no one cares about me and I have been trying to reach out to others but feel rejected. I hate that feeling and it makes me start questioning myself. It makes me feel horrible because I feel not worthy of friendship or of anything good in my life. I hate this about me, that I let my mind control me so many times.
My parenting has definitely suffered. I am very easily angered and struggling to stay calm and let the little things just go. Lily is a little screamer when she doesn't get her way and listening to this ALL. DAY. LONG. is driving me insane! Claire is going through a thing where she hates to wear pants (of any kind) , her seat belt, etc. and throws a screaming fit when she has too. Which, you know, is any time we go anywhere at all. Drew is doing pretty good but I can't give him the attention he needs because I have spent most of my day today defusing temper tantrums and wondering if I am losing my mind?!
And, I have surgery scheduled for Tuesday morning. I am always worried when I have surgery. And this is a very hard and sad day for me. Without going into our reasons or our decision, I will not be able to have more children. We know that this is the right decison but we are very sad. My life is my husband and my children. That's all I know and I love every second of it. I really believe that my conflicting feelings are the source of a lot of this mess I am going through this week. Please pray for us.
Anyway, I just felt like I had to get this said. I know that I have not been walking around with my "full armour of God" as my protection against Satan's attacks. I must stay in the word, that is why I am starting the memory verse. I must focus on what my family thinks of me and their needs from me as a wife and mother. I HAVE to get to that point where I no longer worry about what people (even family) think of me. I have to stop letting other people's opinions of me control me. I KNOW WHO I AM. I KNOW I AM WORTHY. I KNOW I AM CALLED TO BE CHARLIE'S WIFE AND CLAIRE, LILY & DREW'S MAMA. THE LORD IS MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND HE LOVES ME.
and that's all I need to know.
Julie
Charlie and I went to see Fireproof on Sunday night. It was, as I already said, in a word, AWESOME!!! It has been life changing for us! I am seeing things in my husband that I have prayed for and now they are coming true! Last night was a very huge moment for us. Charlie took me down on the floor with him on our knees and he prayed over us. :) I cannot stop crying today. Just tears of absolute joy everytime I think of my precious husband and how he is trying so hard to be the husband/father he is called to be, how his heart is so tender towards me now and most important, He is walking with Christ every step of the way! :)
We are going through some major things right now and I am not afraid. Charlie is standing up and taking control and I am SO proud of my husband! However, the problem is with me.
Satan is atttacking me; big time. I have a major self pity thing going on. I am not able to focus so well when I am in prayer. I just feel like I need to sleep and have no urge to take care of my family or my home. Sounds bad, huh? But, I have to admit it. I must get this out so that Satan has NO power over my mind. I have learned exactly what to do to make him go away! ;)
I am just in a major funk. I feel like no one cares about me and I have been trying to reach out to others but feel rejected. I hate that feeling and it makes me start questioning myself. It makes me feel horrible because I feel not worthy of friendship or of anything good in my life. I hate this about me, that I let my mind control me so many times.
My parenting has definitely suffered. I am very easily angered and struggling to stay calm and let the little things just go. Lily is a little screamer when she doesn't get her way and listening to this ALL. DAY. LONG. is driving me insane! Claire is going through a thing where she hates to wear pants (of any kind) , her seat belt, etc. and throws a screaming fit when she has too. Which, you know, is any time we go anywhere at all. Drew is doing pretty good but I can't give him the attention he needs because I have spent most of my day today defusing temper tantrums and wondering if I am losing my mind?!
And, I have surgery scheduled for Tuesday morning. I am always worried when I have surgery. And this is a very hard and sad day for me. Without going into our reasons or our decision, I will not be able to have more children. We know that this is the right decison but we are very sad. My life is my husband and my children. That's all I know and I love every second of it. I really believe that my conflicting feelings are the source of a lot of this mess I am going through this week. Please pray for us.
Anyway, I just felt like I had to get this said. I know that I have not been walking around with my "full armour of God" as my protection against Satan's attacks. I must stay in the word, that is why I am starting the memory verse. I must focus on what my family thinks of me and their needs from me as a wife and mother. I HAVE to get to that point where I no longer worry about what people (even family) think of me. I have to stop letting other people's opinions of me control me. I KNOW WHO I AM. I KNOW I AM WORTHY. I KNOW I AM CALLED TO BE CHARLIE'S WIFE AND CLAIRE, LILY & DREW'S MAMA. THE LORD IS MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND HE LOVES ME.
and that's all I need to know.
Julie
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