I can not believe tomorrow is the big day! Can you believe it? I can't!! I am so excited! (thus the ridiculous amount of exclamation points haha)
Today we confirmed with everyone about going to Houston so we feel better about that. His case worker also let us know that maybe we can have Micah after the second visit not 3rd. I hope we can get him the soonest day possible.
So the plan is go there Tuesday read the file, say yes. Wednesday meet with all people involved with our son and have a meeting, Thursday is a free day so far so we are going to Galveston to have a little fun, Friday our first meeting, Saturday our second and hopefully last meeting. Sunday we bring him home! That would be AWESOME!!!!
God is in control and he's got this. Please pray for Micah that he would attach to us. Pray for God's provision. Micah will need a lot of things when he comes home and Paul found out today that his boss will not be paying him for this week that he has to take off to go do this. Pray for our other kids that they would adjust really well to a new brother and all our kids would get along. Also pray for my tooth and stomach both are giving me some issues.
Be blessed
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
We caught the bug
Last Wednesday Trinity and I went with a few people down town to deliver food to the homeless. Well we enjoyed it so much that the whole family wants to do it. Then a friend called and her daughter wanted to do it too! So tonight we are all going down to pass out more. The kids were excited & Paul was excited!
It is amazing what 20.00 can do.
Be blessed
Be blessed
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Southern Sweetness
Today was a crazy cranky day. All week has seemed harder than normal. I realized last night that I hadnt been doing my daily Bible reading. That really makes a difference. I went to the gym to get my workout in and kept getting interrupted. I go days with no one calling me then all of a sudden today Im the most popular gal in Texas.
While at the gym I forgot my book so I was trying to think what could I do for 30 mins on the elliptical before my body pump class started. I hate not doing several things at once. I remembered my Bible app on my phone and started reading Matthew. I love the gospels. Then more interruptions and I got upset and was like screw it! I got to my class worked out then called my BFF from middle school. She had texted me and called during class and I couldnt wait to call her back. I needed a friend.
We talked for 3 hours. She prayed with me 6 separate times. God had told her I needed prayer all week. She obeyed. I cant tell you how amazing that was. After our talk I felt stronger. So strong in fact I called to see if the file was at the adoption agency. I thought maybe...just maybe. Nope! Thats when all my strength melted away and I wanted to throw in the towel. "I can't do this God its too hard!" I kept saying. As hard as it is to admit it I was wallowing in some serious self pity. "Why is this happening? Why can't they just do what they are suppose to. This is too hard!"
I guess one thing about me is I can get over stuff like that semi-quickly as I grow older. I immediately got into action mode. Some way Some how if I could do anything I will because Micah is worth it! So I called the CPS adoption gal and she didnt answer, then I remembered she gave me the case workers name and a number that may be able to get me to him. I called the number and gave them the spelling because its weird I have no idea how to pronounce it. She knew who I meant and gave me a direct line. This is where it gets to the place I want to stick large long needles in my eyeballs!!!
He picks up. Wow so he is alive! We have ask, caseworkers have ask, supervisors have ask him to call or email us but nope not in 9 months or more have we ever heard from him. Our son's case worker. Each word he spoke was followed by 10 mins of pauses. He seemed to be on facebook or watching a really good movie rather than talking to me. He wasnt there with me if you get what I mean. It took forever!
I got real sweet with him.
Me: Since apparently the file keeps getting lost in the mail my husband and I are just going to drive there and read it.
Him: ah.......mmm.....well.......i will have to.......yeah I will check with the mail room and see...um..i'm gonna have to.....
Me: (getting annoyed this has already taken 15 mins but keeping calm, cool and sweet) Well all we need to do is read the file and it isnt coming and we are concerned for Micah having to change schools and be with new people he needs to be home to bond.
Him: (inaudible) .... .... ..... ..... .... .... well I guess.... I will be here all tuesday.....
Me:Great! Tuesday it is, I will be out there Tuesday. What time? Morning ok?
Him: well....yeah...I mean....I will be here all day......
Me: Ok well great we will see you in the morning on Tuesday to read the file. And (now I get real southern and real sweet) since we are traveling so far to read a file that keeps getting lost in the mail I would love to have a staffing the next day and visit with our child. My husband is taking off work and we are coming such a long way....
Him: well.....we.....well we have.....I have meetings on Thursday and .....I would have to.....um....well...maybe......yeah...we could have the staffing on Tuesday but.....not the visit not until.....well maybe Friday but.....well...um....I will have to clear this.....
Me: That is so great thank you so much so Tuesday we will be there to read the file. Wednesday we will see you at the staffing and Friday at the visit.
Him: Yeah...I will...yeah I guess...I will call to confirm.....
Me: Great so Tuesday we will be there to read the file. Wednesday we will see you at the staffing and Friday at the visit. It was great speaking to you and I will see you Tuesday we will be there to read the file. Wednesday we will see you at the staffing and Friday at the visit. You have a great day!
Then my wonderful awesome amazing gladney caseworker called. I told her what I did. She got the same impression from our son's caseworker. She said to call others to let them know we were coming because he seems so flighty that he may just not show up to work on Tuesday or tell anyone. So we are doing that tomorrow.
Now as if that wasnt amazing in itself there is more and this gets AWESOME!
How many people told me about God's timing? So many I could spit! I know that His time is perfect I never doubted Him or that statement what I had a problem with was stupidity. This morning a person in Houston with 2 kids with Ds offered to watch our kids while we are out there!!!! That was an answer to prayer!
Next this same woman told me that her parents wanted to give us their house to stay at next week since they would be on vacation! GOD YOU ARE AWESOME! I couldnt believe it! She said they love Jesus and love down syndrome so they wanted to help. WOW!
God is so good and His timing is perfect. The waiting still sucks but God never does! I never doubted God and I hope I never came across that way. I just hate that some people dont have the child's best interest in mind. You dont like to work..Quit! The children should never have to suffer!
Thank you all for the prayers. Please keep them coming! I pray this all works out and if so tomorrow it will be 7 days until I meet my son!!!
Be blessed
While at the gym I forgot my book so I was trying to think what could I do for 30 mins on the elliptical before my body pump class started. I hate not doing several things at once. I remembered my Bible app on my phone and started reading Matthew. I love the gospels. Then more interruptions and I got upset and was like screw it! I got to my class worked out then called my BFF from middle school. She had texted me and called during class and I couldnt wait to call her back. I needed a friend.
We talked for 3 hours. She prayed with me 6 separate times. God had told her I needed prayer all week. She obeyed. I cant tell you how amazing that was. After our talk I felt stronger. So strong in fact I called to see if the file was at the adoption agency. I thought maybe...just maybe. Nope! Thats when all my strength melted away and I wanted to throw in the towel. "I can't do this God its too hard!" I kept saying. As hard as it is to admit it I was wallowing in some serious self pity. "Why is this happening? Why can't they just do what they are suppose to. This is too hard!"
I guess one thing about me is I can get over stuff like that semi-quickly as I grow older. I immediately got into action mode. Some way Some how if I could do anything I will because Micah is worth it! So I called the CPS adoption gal and she didnt answer, then I remembered she gave me the case workers name and a number that may be able to get me to him. I called the number and gave them the spelling because its weird I have no idea how to pronounce it. She knew who I meant and gave me a direct line. This is where it gets to the place I want to stick large long needles in my eyeballs!!!
He picks up. Wow so he is alive! We have ask, caseworkers have ask, supervisors have ask him to call or email us but nope not in 9 months or more have we ever heard from him. Our son's case worker. Each word he spoke was followed by 10 mins of pauses. He seemed to be on facebook or watching a really good movie rather than talking to me. He wasnt there with me if you get what I mean. It took forever!
I got real sweet with him.
Me: Since apparently the file keeps getting lost in the mail my husband and I are just going to drive there and read it.
Him: ah.......mmm.....well.......i will have to.......yeah I will check with the mail room and see...um..i'm gonna have to.....
Me: (getting annoyed this has already taken 15 mins but keeping calm, cool and sweet) Well all we need to do is read the file and it isnt coming and we are concerned for Micah having to change schools and be with new people he needs to be home to bond.
Him: (inaudible) .... .... ..... ..... .... .... well I guess.... I will be here all tuesday.....
Me:Great! Tuesday it is, I will be out there Tuesday. What time? Morning ok?
Him: well....yeah...I mean....I will be here all day......
Me: Ok well great we will see you in the morning on Tuesday to read the file. And (now I get real southern and real sweet) since we are traveling so far to read a file that keeps getting lost in the mail I would love to have a staffing the next day and visit with our child. My husband is taking off work and we are coming such a long way....
Him: well.....we.....well we have.....I have meetings on Thursday and .....I would have to.....um....well...maybe......yeah...we could have the staffing on Tuesday but.....not the visit not until.....well maybe Friday but.....well...um....I will have to clear this.....
Me: That is so great thank you so much so Tuesday we will be there to read the file. Wednesday we will see you at the staffing and Friday at the visit.
Him: Yeah...I will...yeah I guess...I will call to confirm.....
Me: Great so Tuesday we will be there to read the file. Wednesday we will see you at the staffing and Friday at the visit. It was great speaking to you and I will see you Tuesday we will be there to read the file. Wednesday we will see you at the staffing and Friday at the visit. You have a great day!
Then my wonderful awesome amazing gladney caseworker called. I told her what I did. She got the same impression from our son's caseworker. She said to call others to let them know we were coming because he seems so flighty that he may just not show up to work on Tuesday or tell anyone. So we are doing that tomorrow.
Now as if that wasnt amazing in itself there is more and this gets AWESOME!
How many people told me about God's timing? So many I could spit! I know that His time is perfect I never doubted Him or that statement what I had a problem with was stupidity. This morning a person in Houston with 2 kids with Ds offered to watch our kids while we are out there!!!! That was an answer to prayer!
Next this same woman told me that her parents wanted to give us their house to stay at next week since they would be on vacation! GOD YOU ARE AWESOME! I couldnt believe it! She said they love Jesus and love down syndrome so they wanted to help. WOW!
God is so good and His timing is perfect. The waiting still sucks but God never does! I never doubted God and I hope I never came across that way. I just hate that some people dont have the child's best interest in mind. You dont like to work..Quit! The children should never have to suffer!
Thank you all for the prayers. Please keep them coming! I pray this all works out and if so tomorrow it will be 7 days until I meet my son!!!
Be blessed
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
When I was hungry
The very first thing I noticed as we drove down the dark street was all the people. Where did they all come from? Blankets out on the sidewalks, suitcases, coolers, people everywhere. We pulled onto the road and stopped the car. My daughter, her friend and I got out. The smell, oh my, what is that smell? A mixture of urine and sweat.
The two men we were with opened the trunk for us and we began getting the sacs out. One, two, five, eight people all coming toward us. I wasnt scared. I felt safe. I had prayed for protection on our way down and God gave me a peace as we were standing there in the middle of the dimly lit road at 9 o' clock at night. They started coming in droves. Dozens and dozens of people. They were young, old, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, men and women. Oh the women, so many women. That was different. In PA I only ever saw 2 maybe 3 homeless people. No women, well not since Paul and I were first married and we came across a young girl who was pregnant. We helped her get to a pregnancy center. Paul saw her on a bus years later with her daughter. That made us smile.
One woman came up to us. You knew she had to be a regular because everyone knew her. She saw the girls and ask for a hug. My beautiful 11 year old daughter reached out wrapped her arms around and hugged this older hispanic woman who was missing teeth, dirty and sweaty. Trin didnt care she just loved on her like Jesus. I am so very proud. Her name was Soul. Well it meant soul anyways, I do remember that. She was told she only had a couple weeks to live that the cancer was bad and she would go home soon. Soul believes Jesus healed her. She smiled and got excited as she told me she was here and living and God was good. Living on the street needing help to get her next meal, dying from cancer, praising her Father. My God how great thou art. There is a lot I need to learn from Soul. She blessed me and said goodnight and requested a handshake from us as well. We all obliged. How could I not? She was so warm and inviting.
We started to pull away and go to the next street, but the guy we were with that was carrying the water was having some car trouble. So we turned back around to help. While there more people starting coming up. I couldnt grab the bags fast enough. They were all around the car waiting to be fed. The sac lunches were getting less and less. After we got to the next street we had four left.
I looked down the long street full of cars and people. Down at the end of the street we saw a man and pregnant woman fighting. Then they made up all over the street :) Either that or he was choking her. As we started down the road I noticed the cars packed full of things. These were makeshift houses. People lived in these cars. People live in cars? Really? How naive was I to believe this only happened in movies. One after another they came up to the car. Now only one lunch left. They girls wanted to take the lunch apart and give some to each person. I love that they cared. The last person came up and the food was all gone. More people came up and I had to tell some we didnt have any. My chest hurt. They werent angry or sad. It was ok by them, not by me.
What was I doing with my life? My nice comfy starbucks filled life? I should have made more lunches. I could have done more. The man we were with said at some point we were going to run out anyways. We still had the water. The truck in front of us had the water and we would follow them until it was gone. Down at the end of the street we made it to the pregnant woman and the man she was with. He started walking up to the truck and she walked away. He caught up with her to give her a water, she kept walking faster. It wasnt that she was trying to get away from him, more that she was proud and didnt want to go beg for water and food. I would have done the same thing. In fact I did. When Paul lost his job the one time we needed to use the food bank at church I made him go. When he used the food stamp card we had at one time I wasnt around. I would suddenly have to pee or need to go to the car or pick up a magazine to start reading it. I wasnt one of those people. You know the ones on *whispers* welfare.
Tonight I learned so much. I saw so much. We are studying Matthew and it kind of made me think about that. Jesus walking down the street and the crowds of people that just wanted to get near Him. I saw a blind man tonight with his cane walk down the street and right to our car happy to get a cold bottle of water. I saw people laying on the hard ground in their night clothes sleeping. I saw men sitting on chairs made of buckets playing a game on a piece of cardboard. I saw my daughter and her friend hand sac after sac of food to each person that came up to them. I saw them want to do more. I saw people come up asking for the ice from the cooler when the water was gone.
The Holy Spirit brought to mind the scripture Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26
The two men we were with opened the trunk for us and we began getting the sacs out. One, two, five, eight people all coming toward us. I wasnt scared. I felt safe. I had prayed for protection on our way down and God gave me a peace as we were standing there in the middle of the dimly lit road at 9 o' clock at night. They started coming in droves. Dozens and dozens of people. They were young, old, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, men and women. Oh the women, so many women. That was different. In PA I only ever saw 2 maybe 3 homeless people. No women, well not since Paul and I were first married and we came across a young girl who was pregnant. We helped her get to a pregnancy center. Paul saw her on a bus years later with her daughter. That made us smile.
One woman came up to us. You knew she had to be a regular because everyone knew her. She saw the girls and ask for a hug. My beautiful 11 year old daughter reached out wrapped her arms around and hugged this older hispanic woman who was missing teeth, dirty and sweaty. Trin didnt care she just loved on her like Jesus. I am so very proud. Her name was Soul. Well it meant soul anyways, I do remember that. She was told she only had a couple weeks to live that the cancer was bad and she would go home soon. Soul believes Jesus healed her. She smiled and got excited as she told me she was here and living and God was good. Living on the street needing help to get her next meal, dying from cancer, praising her Father. My God how great thou art. There is a lot I need to learn from Soul. She blessed me and said goodnight and requested a handshake from us as well. We all obliged. How could I not? She was so warm and inviting.
We started to pull away and go to the next street, but the guy we were with that was carrying the water was having some car trouble. So we turned back around to help. While there more people starting coming up. I couldnt grab the bags fast enough. They were all around the car waiting to be fed. The sac lunches were getting less and less. After we got to the next street we had four left.
I looked down the long street full of cars and people. Down at the end of the street we saw a man and pregnant woman fighting. Then they made up all over the street :) Either that or he was choking her. As we started down the road I noticed the cars packed full of things. These were makeshift houses. People lived in these cars. People live in cars? Really? How naive was I to believe this only happened in movies. One after another they came up to the car. Now only one lunch left. They girls wanted to take the lunch apart and give some to each person. I love that they cared. The last person came up and the food was all gone. More people came up and I had to tell some we didnt have any. My chest hurt. They werent angry or sad. It was ok by them, not by me.
What was I doing with my life? My nice comfy starbucks filled life? I should have made more lunches. I could have done more. The man we were with said at some point we were going to run out anyways. We still had the water. The truck in front of us had the water and we would follow them until it was gone. Down at the end of the street we made it to the pregnant woman and the man she was with. He started walking up to the truck and she walked away. He caught up with her to give her a water, she kept walking faster. It wasnt that she was trying to get away from him, more that she was proud and didnt want to go beg for water and food. I would have done the same thing. In fact I did. When Paul lost his job the one time we needed to use the food bank at church I made him go. When he used the food stamp card we had at one time I wasnt around. I would suddenly have to pee or need to go to the car or pick up a magazine to start reading it. I wasnt one of those people. You know the ones on *whispers* welfare.
Tonight I learned so much. I saw so much. We are studying Matthew and it kind of made me think about that. Jesus walking down the street and the crowds of people that just wanted to get near Him. I saw a blind man tonight with his cane walk down the street and right to our car happy to get a cold bottle of water. I saw people laying on the hard ground in their night clothes sleeping. I saw men sitting on chairs made of buckets playing a game on a piece of cardboard. I saw my daughter and her friend hand sac after sac of food to each person that came up to them. I saw them want to do more. I saw people come up asking for the ice from the cooler when the water was gone.
The Holy Spirit brought to mind the scripture Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26
When the water was gone people came and got ice, a man filled his cooler. Maybe all he needed was more ice for his cooler and God knew so He took us there to that exact street and the man's immediate needs were met. Each person that got food or water tonight had their immediate needs met. God had that covered. Seven days a week there are people who go down with 50 sac lunches and feed these people and hand out water too. Every.single day.
It took an hour out of my life. What would I have been doing? Eating? Maybe watching TV? An hour. Thats it. An hour out of my life was all it took for God to use me to meet the needs of a hundred people or so. I'm hooked!
What can we do tomorrow to show people that God will meet all their needs? How can we be the change we want to see in the world? You can start with maybe keeping a cooler of water in your car and when you see someone who is thirsty give them a drink. Matthew 25:35-40 35.For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?39‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
be blessed
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
No file no answers
Our caseworker is trying to find out who sent it and when. Still no file, no answer from them. Frustrated and sad. God's got this I know but the run around is nuts! What ever happened to peoples word meaning something? If you said you did something it was done. Now its not like that at all.
Prayers Please this is wearing on all of us. Kids too.
Be blessed
Prayers Please this is wearing on all of us. Kids too.
Be blessed
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Whatever is True
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.- Philippians 4:8-9
Today we waited to hear if the agency received the file that was sent last Wednesday. I got a call from Houston but they didnt leave a voice mail. I called back and it was a long mess I prefer not to relive. So no help there. So we waited. At 4:44pm I got a call from our SW. I know this because I was reading a book and the house was quiet so I closed my eyes for a few minutes and woke up to the phone and on the tv I saw the time. I was excited.
The excitement was short lived. She said they lied and didnt send it last week. We could go there on Friday to read it. So we can go to Houston on Friday to read it. Ok? Then what? What will you give me for doing that? A visit? A staffing? A meeting? She had to call and ask and I waited to hear. A few minutes later she said nothing really we could get. Long story. But she told us they would send the file Friday (not even today!) and we should get it Monday so then we go to the adoption agency and read it. Ok, we can do that. Then we get Micah right? Wrong!
She tells me it will be at least another 6 weeks due to the subsidy paperwork. She ask the caseworker if we could start the paperwork before we get the file since it takes so long. I was unclear as to the answer. What really hurts is that as soon as he gets here if it is when school is in session then they will force us to put him in school. We want to homeschool him. We want to bond with him. This annoys me. I am angry that they cant see past their own bureaucracy to see what is best for the child!
So today I was having a rough day. I am sure few of you know that today is the due date of our second child who we lost in utero. I wanted to have good news on this date. You know several years ago God gave us great news on this date. We found out we were having Sarie. It took some of the sting out of the tragedy of that date. I ask for help from my buddies online and they really came through.
I wasnt going to let satan ruin my day. I am alive, I am breathing, my kids are here and healthy so I made a list
Grateful
- Paul's book was published today!! (www.losttheplotbook.com)
- healthy happy kids
- quiet time
- friends who lifted me up
- fun dinner
- USCIS fingerprints done.
- playing at the pool with the kids
- watching Noah eat a kids meal!
- new friend at church
-warm welcoming people at church
- new friends at church praying for me and caring about me
- clean-ish house :)
- bedtime prayers
-hugs and kisses 5x over!
- tv date with my handsome husband
- the show 24
- the Bible (all those encouraging words)
- hearing from the social worker (even if it wasn't what we wanted to hear)
Tonight we were reading about the woman who touched Jesus' garment and was healed. We looked at the same story in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Something was said that stayed with me. "Daughter, your faith has healed your pain and affliction. Go and be well." I kept thinking that if I could just touch His garment, but then we have what they didn't have- a direct link to the Father. We have the Holy Spirit. We have Jesus.
Something else that was said during class was "Whether its then or now as long as it glorifies God." That's what I want. Today I'm disappointed and sad. I want my child home. Feeling that way doesn't make me less trusting of God. It doesn't mean I lost my faith. I lost my patience sure but not in God, in humans that don't care. Being a follower of Christ doesn't mean that I will never feel heartache or disappointment. It doesn't mean I wont feel weary and sad. Please don't mistake my human feelings for not giving it to God or not following. Taking up your cross daily isn't comfortable. I'm trying. I fail daily but praise the Lord He still loves me.
Be blessed
Today we waited to hear if the agency received the file that was sent last Wednesday. I got a call from Houston but they didnt leave a voice mail. I called back and it was a long mess I prefer not to relive. So no help there. So we waited. At 4:44pm I got a call from our SW. I know this because I was reading a book and the house was quiet so I closed my eyes for a few minutes and woke up to the phone and on the tv I saw the time. I was excited.
The excitement was short lived. She said they lied and didnt send it last week. We could go there on Friday to read it. So we can go to Houston on Friday to read it. Ok? Then what? What will you give me for doing that? A visit? A staffing? A meeting? She had to call and ask and I waited to hear. A few minutes later she said nothing really we could get. Long story. But she told us they would send the file Friday (not even today!) and we should get it Monday so then we go to the adoption agency and read it. Ok, we can do that. Then we get Micah right? Wrong!
She tells me it will be at least another 6 weeks due to the subsidy paperwork. She ask the caseworker if we could start the paperwork before we get the file since it takes so long. I was unclear as to the answer. What really hurts is that as soon as he gets here if it is when school is in session then they will force us to put him in school. We want to homeschool him. We want to bond with him. This annoys me. I am angry that they cant see past their own bureaucracy to see what is best for the child!
So today I was having a rough day. I am sure few of you know that today is the due date of our second child who we lost in utero. I wanted to have good news on this date. You know several years ago God gave us great news on this date. We found out we were having Sarie. It took some of the sting out of the tragedy of that date. I ask for help from my buddies online and they really came through.
- Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-48 hours ago · · 2
2 Cor. 12:9-10 read it all. His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses, hardships, and distressing times.
8 hours ago · · 1
Isaiah 40:31 "Yet those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength....." His strength! His DUNAMIS Holy Spirit strength.
8 hours ago · · 1
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
(1 Peter 5:10 ESV)
8 hours ago · · 1
But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever -- yes, for ever and ever. — Daniel 7:18 Forever! The Kingdom will belong to God's saints, his children, the people of the Most High (see Daniel 7:27), us! And it will be ours, forever ... and ever ... and ever. Praise God for his promises, his grace, and his faithfulness.
8 hours ago · · 1
Ashlee, you inspire me! I am amazed at you! Days like this are tough, but in the end, days like today will grow you even more! xoxoxoxo
8 hours ago · · 2
Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of any kind because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking in anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
8 hours ago · · 1
Isaiah 41:13 NLT
For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the LORD your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
my new all-time favorite: You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You. is 26:3
8 hours ago · · 1
This is where I am today! Maybe it will help you too! When am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3
7 hours ago · · 1
and in case that speaks to you this song goes with it. listed over and over today so far.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gFQCQcLVpM
Lyrics: When I can't see You I know You're there When I can't feel You I will no...See More7 hours ago · · 1 ·
Psalm 27, especially v. 13-14: I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and take heart, and wait for the LORD.
7 hours ago · · 2
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans for your welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope.
7 hours ago · · 2
Corinthians 4:16-18
Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttokno w.com/ 22-inspirational-bible-vers es/#ixzz210M8rQ68
www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com
Are you looking for inspiration today? Check out my favorite inspirational Bible verses.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No test that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down, He will never let you be pushed past your limit; He will always be there to help you come through it.
6 hours ago · · 1
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." Lam. 3:21-24. My favorite Ashley. Praying for you.
50 minutes ago · · 1
I wasnt going to let satan ruin my day. I am alive, I am breathing, my kids are here and healthy so I made a list
Grateful
- Paul's book was published today!! (www.losttheplotbook.com)
- healthy happy kids
- quiet time
- friends who lifted me up
- fun dinner
- USCIS fingerprints done.
- playing at the pool with the kids
- watching Noah eat a kids meal!
- new friend at church
-warm welcoming people at church
- new friends at church praying for me and caring about me
- clean-ish house :)
- bedtime prayers
-hugs and kisses 5x over!
- tv date with my handsome husband
- the show 24
- the Bible (all those encouraging words)
- hearing from the social worker (even if it wasn't what we wanted to hear)
Tonight we were reading about the woman who touched Jesus' garment and was healed. We looked at the same story in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Something was said that stayed with me. "Daughter, your faith has healed your pain and affliction. Go and be well." I kept thinking that if I could just touch His garment, but then we have what they didn't have- a direct link to the Father. We have the Holy Spirit. We have Jesus.
Something else that was said during class was "Whether its then or now as long as it glorifies God." That's what I want. Today I'm disappointed and sad. I want my child home. Feeling that way doesn't make me less trusting of God. It doesn't mean I lost my faith. I lost my patience sure but not in God, in humans that don't care. Being a follower of Christ doesn't mean that I will never feel heartache or disappointment. It doesn't mean I wont feel weary and sad. Please don't mistake my human feelings for not giving it to God or not following. Taking up your cross daily isn't comfortable. I'm trying. I fail daily but praise the Lord He still loves me.
Be blessed
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