Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
God's timing . . .
. . . is always perfect. Not always the way we want it. But, nevertheless, perfect. Last Wed. afternoon was a little disconcerting for my family and my neighbors. We love our house. We love our neighbors. We love our neighborhood. Unfortunately, crime has become a regular topic of conversation in our area of town. We know it's there. We are careful. And most days it's just an 'awareness' more than a 'concern.' Last Wed. brought it into focus as a major reality.
Our next door neighbor's house was burglarized by five guys, mostly teenagers, the youngest only thirteen years old. Our neighbor drove up to see them jumping out the window of his home. He grabbed a gun out of his truck and chased them. One of them shot at him. He shot back several times as he was chasing them. No one was hit. My husband called me at work to warn me. He didn't want me to drive up and find police cars and TV stations next to our driveway and think someone had died!
It was Wed night. I was exhausted from work and with what was going on right next door to my house, I almost didn't go to church. Imagine my surprise when I got there and one of the main topics of prayer was areas around the church that need God's kingdom to come, specifically where I live! As Michael, the pastor began to ask us to call out things that were keeping God's kingdom from coming in the areas around us, I immediately said, 'fatherless children.' I hadn't thought of it before that moment. I know it's a problem but this was a new awareness, a heartbroken burden for me now. I wonder how many of those kids who were being shot at by a frustrated, frightened homeowner had fathers who loved them?
Then another reality hit me. Bullets were flying next door to my house. What if one had gone through a window? My husband and daughter were home. What if? I wrote not long ago about how my life might be different if I never doubted, if I really believed God to be sovereign and acted on that belief. This night was just a small token of Him showing me that He always goes before me. Why did Michael specifically have prayer that night for Jackson? He had no idea what had happened in my neighborhood. At some point the potential danger my family was in would have hit me and it would have terrified me. But by using this prayer time, with dozens of others praying around me for my city, I was comforted by the presence of my Father. He already knew what would happen that afternoon. He knew that my daughter and I would need reassurance at that precise moment. He knew. And He provided. Yes, His timing is indeed ALWAYS perfect!
Our next door neighbor's house was burglarized by five guys, mostly teenagers, the youngest only thirteen years old. Our neighbor drove up to see them jumping out the window of his home. He grabbed a gun out of his truck and chased them. One of them shot at him. He shot back several times as he was chasing them. No one was hit. My husband called me at work to warn me. He didn't want me to drive up and find police cars and TV stations next to our driveway and think someone had died!
It was Wed night. I was exhausted from work and with what was going on right next door to my house, I almost didn't go to church. Imagine my surprise when I got there and one of the main topics of prayer was areas around the church that need God's kingdom to come, specifically where I live! As Michael, the pastor began to ask us to call out things that were keeping God's kingdom from coming in the areas around us, I immediately said, 'fatherless children.' I hadn't thought of it before that moment. I know it's a problem but this was a new awareness, a heartbroken burden for me now. I wonder how many of those kids who were being shot at by a frustrated, frightened homeowner had fathers who loved them?
Then another reality hit me. Bullets were flying next door to my house. What if one had gone through a window? My husband and daughter were home. What if? I wrote not long ago about how my life might be different if I never doubted, if I really believed God to be sovereign and acted on that belief. This night was just a small token of Him showing me that He always goes before me. Why did Michael specifically have prayer that night for Jackson? He had no idea what had happened in my neighborhood. At some point the potential danger my family was in would have hit me and it would have terrified me. But by using this prayer time, with dozens of others praying around me for my city, I was comforted by the presence of my Father. He already knew what would happen that afternoon. He knew that my daughter and I would need reassurance at that precise moment. He knew. And He provided. Yes, His timing is indeed ALWAYS perfect!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
God never says . . .
Since we just celebrated Father's Day, I thought I'd share about my dad. Daddy is a no nonsense kind of parent. As I was growing up, even though he was strict, I could always count on him to be fair. When I asked questions, he would give thoughtful answers. When I said I didn't understand something, he would explain. When I disobeyed, I suffered consequences. If he told me something, I knew I could count on it and that it was always truthful to the best of his knowledge. He always told me that anyone who would lie to me in little things would lie to me about anything. That's just one of many sayings that have proven his wisdom to me over the years.
After I had children, I realized there were a few things that Daddy never said. I always thought that I was 'just like my dad.' Then, one day as I was responding in frustration to one of our little angels that was being disobedient, it dawned on me that my parenting style had become much different from my dad's. At that moment I realized that there were three things I had never heard come out of my daddy's mouth.
1. I'm going to count to three . . .
When Daddy spoke to me, I knew I'd better respond. There was no counting and waiting for me to get around to answering.
2. And I mean it!
If he said it, he meant it. And we knew it.
3. I'm not going to tell you again!
He didn't have to. We knew he meant it the first time!
Anyway, I'm very thankful for my earthly father and the example he set for me. Much of what I understand about God began with my dad. But I've come to appreciate something about my heavenly father in a whole new perspective over the last few months. Through an extremely difficult time in my family and days that I never, ever want to repeat, I've learned to walk in the assurance that God is never caught off guard. Our lives may be turned upside down. Our hopes may be dashed to pieces. Our plans may be buried in the dust. We may experience hurt that is so deep that we truly think we may die. But we can always know with complete confidence that there is definitely one thing God NEVER says. 'WOW! I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING!!!'
He knows every hair on our head. He created every cell of our body, every drop of our DNA. He knew who we were before we were even thought about by any human. He knew where we were yesterday, where we would be today, and what tomorrow holds for us. Time is irrelevant to him. He was. He is. He always will be.
And he loves us. Oh, how he loves us. Passionately. Perfectly.
Psalm 139:16 (NLT) You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
What ever you are going through, rest in the peace that God is already there. He will carry you through.
Blessings,
Renea
After I had children, I realized there were a few things that Daddy never said. I always thought that I was 'just like my dad.' Then, one day as I was responding in frustration to one of our little angels that was being disobedient, it dawned on me that my parenting style had become much different from my dad's. At that moment I realized that there were three things I had never heard come out of my daddy's mouth.
1. I'm going to count to three . . .
When Daddy spoke to me, I knew I'd better respond. There was no counting and waiting for me to get around to answering.
2. And I mean it!
If he said it, he meant it. And we knew it.
3. I'm not going to tell you again!
He didn't have to. We knew he meant it the first time!
Anyway, I'm very thankful for my earthly father and the example he set for me. Much of what I understand about God began with my dad. But I've come to appreciate something about my heavenly father in a whole new perspective over the last few months. Through an extremely difficult time in my family and days that I never, ever want to repeat, I've learned to walk in the assurance that God is never caught off guard. Our lives may be turned upside down. Our hopes may be dashed to pieces. Our plans may be buried in the dust. We may experience hurt that is so deep that we truly think we may die. But we can always know with complete confidence that there is definitely one thing God NEVER says. 'WOW! I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING!!!'
He knows every hair on our head. He created every cell of our body, every drop of our DNA. He knew who we were before we were even thought about by any human. He knew where we were yesterday, where we would be today, and what tomorrow holds for us. Time is irrelevant to him. He was. He is. He always will be.
And he loves us. Oh, how he loves us. Passionately. Perfectly.
Psalm 139:16 (NLT) You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
What ever you are going through, rest in the peace that God is already there. He will carry you through.
Blessings,
Renea
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
I got checked . . .
No, I wasn't going through airport security. I got checked by God. As you may know, my husband lost his job the end of 2010. He's been faithfully looking, but still no job. We really are ok. (Everyone keeps asking, Thank you!) Most of the time I really don't think much about it. I know God is in charge and I trust Him. But every now and then I have a moment. You know, one of those panic stricken, can't breathe, think I'm going to have a heart attack, moments. I had one today. We have a bill that's past due on the satellite. We intended to cancel. We planned to cancel. We didn't. I thought he would. He thought I did. I called to explain and found out that they have our debit card on file. If we don't pay it, they will debit our account for the bill plus the equipment that they haven't received, even if I tell them it's already in the mail. I had a slight panic. I called my sweet hubby to 'let him know' what I had found out. That's a rather gentile way of putting it. He told me what we had in the bank and how much we would need to put with that to avoid the unwanted debit on our account. He asked me if I had enough money to add to what was in our account. I told him what I have in my checking account. (Yes, I have a separate account for business reasons.)
Here's where the 1st check came. I immediately felt like I had lied to him. I didn't, but I felt like it. I have my tithe money in cash. So, yes, I have more money than I said. And my first thought was that if I added in my cash, we would have enough to pay the past due on the bill. But that money isn't mine. Nevertheless, I shall correct this information with my sweetie before I go to sleep tonight.
Then the 2nd check.Do I pay my tithe and leave the bill in God's hands? Or do I pay the bill and trust that God will understand my dilemma? If I really trust that He provides all my needs, that His commandments are not suggestions, that He loves me more than I will ever understand, then why was I even questioning? God's word says to tithe. I haven't always done so. I knew better. I felt guilty. I made excuses. Not any more. I will pay my tithe.
God is always faithful. If my account gets debited anyway, we'll manage. It doesn't change who God is. And, really, we are ok!
More blessings than I can count,
Renea
Ps - (Added later) They didn't debit my account before we took care of the bill. See? Worrying and panic attack for nothing - once again!
Here's where the 1st check came. I immediately felt like I had lied to him. I didn't, but I felt like it. I have my tithe money in cash. So, yes, I have more money than I said. And my first thought was that if I added in my cash, we would have enough to pay the past due on the bill. But that money isn't mine. Nevertheless, I shall correct this information with my sweetie before I go to sleep tonight.
Then the 2nd check.Do I pay my tithe and leave the bill in God's hands? Or do I pay the bill and trust that God will understand my dilemma? If I really trust that He provides all my needs, that His commandments are not suggestions, that He loves me more than I will ever understand, then why was I even questioning? God's word says to tithe. I haven't always done so. I knew better. I felt guilty. I made excuses. Not any more. I will pay my tithe.
God is always faithful. If my account gets debited anyway, we'll manage. It doesn't change who God is. And, really, we are ok!
More blessings than I can count,
Renea
Ps - (Added later) They didn't debit my account before we took care of the bill. See? Worrying and panic attack for nothing - once again!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
SCRAPBOOK CLASSES START THIS WEEK!!!
Anyone interested in scrapbook classes? I'm teaching one starting this Thu at Michaels north Jackson. Goes for 4 weeks, Thu 6:30-8:30pm. We'll cover all the basics, learn about tools, color theory, design principles, etc. 4 weeks of class only $25.00!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
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