Monday, September 26, 2011

Friends Help Divide the Burden

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 6

This week has certainly shown me how friends can help lessen the burden. As I planned for the yard sale, not knowing how much we'd bring in with what little we had. Friends came forward and added to their "stuff" to our treasures.

A friend who I barely see or even talk to, came forward with some things she'd like to give us for our sale. I gladly accepted, and felt cared for as I went forth with God's plan. She found some more things and was able to bring them to another friend who I see on a daily basis, this in turn had this friend bring us more "stuff" to sell. Then another friend had a couple more things to add to our yard sale.

With all this "stuff", we now had more things to sell. Not only did friends come forward to donate things, but each of my kids went through and sacrificed things to sell. It was a Walton or Little House moment with all of us coming together to help each other out.

Our yard sale didn't bring us BIG money, but it did bring in enough to help buy the groceries for this week. With all of these blessings, I wasn't even brought down when my husband's brakes locked up on his car. This will of course need to be fixed, which will be just as soon as we can.

The day to get caught up by is approaching, but I know with God all things are possible and it will be done!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Trust, It can be So Hard Sometimes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

TRUST, is now a word I see every time I enter my room. My husband found a cross that he received, and hung it on our wall. Since it is something new hung in our room, it keeps capturing my attention.

As we keep facing trials, it is a word I am clinging to. A song keeps repeating in my mind: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart...", it is one that we sing a lot in children's church. I learn a lot of Bible verses this way, which if I'm learning them just thinking what those young minds are learning.

Anyway, I've been having a hard time with my understanding. I can't understand why three of the children in my day care had their funding stopped without a word from the county. They were quick to call me at the beginning of the month, but that was all straightened out. Why couldn't they just offer a phone call 10 days later when unbeknowest to those it matters too they dropped them?

I mean we would have done things a lot different. Instead we find out a month later-that's a month without pay and by the time they were back on the program six weeks had gone by. The parents are trying to make it up, but it's slow considering they are on the program because of their income.

I also don't understand all the other bills that have come due are more than they usually are. Or things breaking down. Especially, now as we are trying to cut back expenses as much as we can. It'll work out fine as long as we keep groceries down.

As I went to bed Friday night, once again wondering "why, when I am trying to follow the Lord, does this keep happening?" I put in the Lord's hands and awoken with new ways to hopefully earn the much needed money--a yard sale.

We all went to work and have found stuff we no longer need or use. So come bright and early Saturday morning we will TRUST in God to see the blessings flow. He will certainly straighten our path, and will help us walk in his glory.

Monday, September 12, 2011

One Step Forward Two Steps Back

It seems every time there is a blessing, it's followed by a trial.

This past week has been a blessed one, but just when things seem to be going well again the walls begin to crumble.

On Saturday, I received the blessing of a scholarship. This was unexpected, I had just asked how soon did I need to pay and explained our current situation. I never expected to have the entire weekend paid for. A confirmation that I am to attend this weekend.

The mail that day though brought bad news of having to completely get caught up by a certain day or loose everything we have worked so hard for. We've worked hard to get caught back up, just aren't quite there yet. We've been going without a lot lately, and will continue to do so until we are current.

Sunday, brought more blessings with some extra money earned.

I thought we needed to adjust a date when our huge insurance payment comes out to the following week. Unfortunately, this could not be done. So now we have to adjust to make sure there's enough in the account on the date the auto payment comes out, which means not very much money until the next pay day.

I know the Lord will provide and get us through. He always does.

Hopefully, soon there will be more steps forward then back. I will continue to walk with Him because He has overcome my troubles.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Dread, Depressing Days

The beginning of my week was horrible. It seems as if the devil has been hard at work trying to bring me down.

It isn't enough that because of the county saying "We never received a fax," that I'm now out a consiberable amount of money and have to wait for it to come through the guardians who really don't have the money in the first place. But then to have the orthodnotist decided to take my artistic daughter braces off early and demand the final payment on her next visit.

Let's just say the week went down hill from there. Everything seemed to go wrong. Funny how when I study the book of Job, how my life begins to be like his. Not nearly as bad, but depressing and challenging none the less.

Still like Job, I will not turn my back on God. He is the one who gets me through.

My week began to get better and the little bit of joy began to shine through. First with friends who came beside me and help me know they were praying for me. Then with lots of birthday wishes from friends and family.

Finally, it was through a birthday gift a morning glory. As my sister-in-law shared this plant has new flowers every morning just like God's mercies are new every morning. Sure enough the next morning new flowers were on the plant and as we left for church that morning the song "Great is the faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see." Then to make sure I really received the message God placed it in the book I was reading as it ended the characters in the book decided to end their evening together singing one of the main characters favorite songs. Yep, you've guessed it "Great is the Faithfulness."

So as bad as my day may get, God is still there and his mercies are new every morning.