God's Gift

With Christmas being only 3 days away I sit here amazed once again at the gift that God gave. To give us freedom from sin is amazing, but to give us that freedom by asking His Son to take our place is mind boggling. Would I be willing to give up my own son to save another person? I'm pretty positive that the answer is no. Yet, God more than willingly did this very thing for the whole world.

Amazingly, some people aren't willing to accept this gift because of the sacrifices that are required of us. We are required to put Jesus first (admit that we are can't do it by ourselves), think of others next (put others needs above our own), and give up our own selfish desires and, even at times, needs (become more like Christ). This gift is totally free because we do not have to come to God clean. The reason for the gift is to cleanse us from our sins. Yet, if we aren't willing to admit that we are sinners than God can not give us the gift that He so willingly wants to give us.

As we celebrate Jesus' gift to us, please thing about your own willingness to give Jesus a gift. Let your gift to Him be a willingness to accept His gift of eternal life by admitting you are a sinner, then ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart to cleanse it. Jesus has already offered the gift, all we have to do is accept it.

God Blesses

I just want to give thank to God for His blessing and faithfulness even when we do not deserve them.

Last week my husband came home after meeting with his boss and informed me that he was getting a substantial pay raise. This raise is retroactive which means that they are paying him the difference of the wages that he has already been paid and the raise. Another blessing is that he will be receiving this amount in a separate check from his normal paycheck and he should be receiving it this week. While I don't know what the actual difference between the two is, I am bless because we can use this extra money during this time of year when there are two weeks of no school, no work for us.

Again, thank you Jesus for your many blessings. Not just financial and physical blessing but the greatest blessing of all, your coming to earth as a baby and dying so that we may have life.

How about God

I realize that it's been along time since I've posted but I also realize that I needed to figure somethings out before I posted again. I feel that a person can not honestly post about what God is doing in his/her life if their life is not in line with God.

I, unfortunately, have been struggling with that aspect of my life for a couple of months. We have been going through some hard issues and circumstances in our lives here, but more than that, I have been struggling with putting my relationship with God first in my life. I've allow my problems and my desires to influence how I respond to Christ's calling in my life. I am realizing that I need to turn over my life, my desires, my problems to God. This maybe a life long struggle for me, but I am wanting to do what God wants.

As I've been struggling with this concept, I realize that I've put things above God. Things like books, computer time, desires for certain achievements in life, and so on. This has even effected my ability to be a mom and a wife. I've been turning inward instead of focusing on God and others first. I've had to ask God's forgiveness and confess my sins to Him. I'm thankful that He is way more forgiving than I am.

Now, I can't say that I will be any better about not struggling with God or with blogging about God's blessing in my life but I can say that God has once again got a hold of my heart and reminded me that HE IS in charge of my life. He will take care of me and my family if I just turn to Him, trust Him, obey Him, and give Him the number one spot of my life. I love Him and, even though I struggle, I want Him to my my guide and my influence.

I hope that the blessing and struggles that I post help those who are struggling as well. I know that God is great and can use anything and anyone, even one that is as imperfect and sinful as I.

How Do You Respond to God?

I just want to know how people respond to God when He calls them to do things that they do not want to do? I know that I don't respond the way a child should respond to a loving Father who knows what is best for them. I cry and complain. Fighting with Him and telling Him that I know better than He. I do finally comply but not until something happens to make me realize that I better obey or else. I find myself wishing that I were not a 'brat' and wondering how God can be so patient. I am so thankful that God is a loving parent, way more patient than I am with my own children, and always willing to forgive me when I sin.

Thank you Father.

Thank God For Friends

I am just thanking God for the friends He has put in my life at this point in time. I have been truly blessed by everyone of them. Today alone I received words of encouragement, a tip about free furniture, and even some stories to chuckle over. God know what we need and when we need it and He know who to send to provide for those needs. I pray that someday I can be the one to bless my friends with something that they need.

Thanking Him in All Circumstances

I am still learning to thank God in all circumstances. In the blessing as well as in the trials. Such as this last week. My parents had been blessed with a train trip to the west-coast for their anniversary, which I am very grateful for. I was so excited because it also was a break for my family to be away from my parents. Even though the week started out well it quickly went from good to bad as I got sick and my husband schedule didn't allow for me to have much down time to recover. I was so discouraged because I wanted the week to be a time of Ray and I and the kids and I just getting closer and instead we were all grousing at each other.

As I thought of the turn of events, I was so discouraged but God in His wisdom began to remind me that even in these circumstances I should be giving Him thanks and praising His Name. Thank you God that You can use any situation to give Yourself glory!

God is Good

God is good even when we don't see it. He never fails even when we do. I see how He has provided over the last month and stand in awe of these facts. First He provides money to pay the bills and then He provides food twice to put on our tables. Now I know that He will provide again to pay the bills and put food on the table.

This summer has been one of wonder and learning. Wonder in what God is capable of doing and learning that I need to constantly be in touch with Him to know His will for my life. God is definitely an awesome God. I am glad to know Him personally as my savior.