So...

I really didn't have a very good day yesterday. I basically had an emotional breakdown from a combination of just EVERYTHING going on in my life right now....frustrations, stress, exhaustion (physical and emotional), and holiday. Everything just kinda piled up yesterday and I just had to cry...so I did...all day! I'm so thankful to have a very understanding and patient husband who would put up with me when I get like that. And especially thankful to have such awesome friends who always have an ear to listen and words of encouragement to try to lift my mood (Kim & Kayla). I am probably MOST grateful for a God who will love me despite me. Even though I had a pity party yesterday I know that He was there loving me through every bit of it and reassuring me that tomorrow would be a new day and that His mercies are new EVERY morning. So, I am MUCH better today, Praise the Lord!!! Jordan and I took a MUCH NEEDED night off last night. We didn't work in the house, didn't go anywhere. We nestled down in the recliners and watched a little bit of TV, had dinner and went to bed early (8pm)! It was so NICE!! So I have a fresh start today and I'm re-energized to tackle what must be tackled today. Work in the house this afternoon with a clear mind and a little more excitement that we are yet again ONE DAY CLOSER to moving in. Hopefully, the plumber will be by there today to fix our plumbing leak and we can turn the water on. I'm refusing to have a prospective MOVE IN date since every one we set never progresses. We'll move in when we're finished and we'll move in when God's ready for us to move in. We have 7 days till Christmas!!! I will be one of the lunatics out there on Christmas Eve trying to buy for the few I need to buy for. I wish I could buy for everyone in my circle of familiy and friends...one day I will! With all of the construction going on right now I really have not had a chance to just really enjoy the excitement and thrill of Christmas this year. It has basically been an afterthought thus far b/c the house has consumed my thoughts. But I want to take this opportunity to recognize the Reason for this CHRISTmas season: the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. With all of this garbage about changing the name of CHRISTmas to Holiday b/c it may offend some, go ahead. But it will still never change the fact that CHRIST is the Reason for CHRISTmas! And NO ONE can stop me from wishing ANYONE a Merry CHRISTMAS!!! Nope, no one! And for anyone that is bothered by that statement, let me take you to a 3rd world country where there are far MORE issues to be more concerned about. To you, I say: GET OVER IT & MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! This blog sends love to all of my family and friends who do happen to read this. May you have a tremendously blessed CHRISTmas with your loved ones and may this new year truly be a year of new beginnings in every area of your life! With love, Me :O)

Faith

Last Sunday morning, December 2nd, I had a greater revelation of faith through a message preached by Pastor Jentezen Franklin. I cannot list everything from his message in detail but I wanted to share an overview of what I received. This may seem elementary, but for some reason, that morning, it was Rhema Word for me. It was just one verse. A verse that I've been familiar with for years. But that morning, God dropped it in my spirit and I understood it even more. Hebrews 11:6 And WITHOUT faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. For the majority of my life I have always prayed "God may my life be pleasing to You. I just want to please You and I want to know that I am doing what You want me to do." The desire of my heart was to please my Father. So everyday I would strive to do the right things, be a good example to others, obey authority, do everything "as unto the Lord." I felt that DOING things that were good and right would please Him. But I can DO all the right things and be faced with a tough situation and allow that situation to seem hopeless to me, and I can lack the faith to believe that God can still handle it and work it out and I would have failed in pleasing God despite my good deed b/c I lacked the faith to believe HIM. His Word IS true! Matthew 19:26 With God ALL things ARE POSSIBLE!!! There is NOTHING too big for God! Pastor Franklin also spoke on when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace. He made note of the fact that when the King had the guards turn the furnace up 7 times hotter that when the guards opened the door to the furnace they were burned and died. The devil will place people in front of you who have faced the same situations you're in and been through the same things you may be going through and they're situations did not turn out well. The devil does that to steer your faith and cause your faith to be questioned and to fail. But make note of the fact that when the King looked into the furnace there were 4 men WALKING around in the fire. You see, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not just sit down in the middle of their trial. They WALKED BY FAITH right in the middle of it! So despite the fact that others may have gone through the same situation you're in and their situation did not turn out in a positive aspect, DO NOT allow the enemy to use that in your life to cause you to doubt what God CAN do. Just have FAITH! Another thing to note in Hebrew 6:11: It says that God is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. Pastor Franklin mentioned this and I will agree that I, too, had the same misconception. But this verse just says that God will reward those who earnestly seek Him...it does not say that you have to find Him in order to be rewarded. If we will just make a conscious effort on a daily basis to SEEK HIM then He will reward us. Reward us with what? I believe He will simply reward us with what we NEED each day. His Word also says that if we seek Him we WILL find Him! How can we possibly lose anything if we just seek Him? One, He will reward us. Two, we will find Him. I can only see us gaining in this scenario. My prayer now is, "God increase my faith because I want to please you! You are God and there is NOTHING impossible with You. I have surrendered my life into Your Hands and I trust You completely with it. Increase my faith." I have been a witness to miracles, signs and wonders and I know that God can heal, set free and deliver His children. He holds my life in His hands and EVERYTHING that happens is b/c He has allowed it to happen for some reason. I just have to trust Him to order my steps b/c He said He would. God is so Awesome!!!! Put your faith in Him today!!!!

House pictures

I just wanted to post some recent pictures of the house. This last picture to the left is the view from the front door. The hardwoods are already laid up to the place where the arches meet. We should finish laying the hardwoods in the living room tonight and the spare bedrooms tomorrow. Then the flooring is finished...we just have to lay the baseboards! The plan is to be moving in next weekend!!! Hallelujah!!!