Divine appointments.

Shortly after I became a Christian, I remember a friend of mine telling me that I would learn that there is no such thing as a coincidence. Oh my goodnes was he right! I look back now and see how if certain things hadn't happened I wouldn't be where I am today.

I think I've written before that I've been in situations and realized that I was supposed to be in that place at that time, no doubt. Those are the times that I KNOW just how much God is in control and just how real HE is. It's amazing how God is working in and around us and we don't always see it.

About 2 months before I found out I was pregnant with Reese, I went to the doctor for my yearly check-up. In the exam room while I was waiting, a magazine was sitting there. On the front of it was Reese Witherspoon and it said "Sweet Reese". We had already been talking about names and I just got chills....wondering if that was a sign of what was to come. The next day, Denson and I were looking at a house that was under construction. There were mirrors that were lableled with their kids names and what name was on one of them......yep, Reese! I knew that would be our baby's name.

I truly believe that the people we encounter, places we go, are no accident. Have you ever gotten the feeling you should say something to a person? I have and I don't act on it like I should. I guess in fear that the person will think I'm crazy, but I always feel horrible when I miss the opportunity. I will say I have not always gotten the response I've expected either. But, I am just the messenger and God is still at work!

I am so not good with words but I pray that God will give me the words to speak to people I encounter and the courage to not back down.

Be careful little feet where you go for it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow...

Little ones are so funny.......they want to do everything they see others do, especially their parents. Reese mocks EVERYTHING Denson does. He pretends to build houses, talk on the phone, cut the grass. He also pretends to do things I do like cook, clean, and get on to Bailey. He repeats everything he hears and I do mean everything. THAT has been a not so good reminder when you hear your 2 yr old say butt hole! Oh, and he wants to do whatever Bailey is doing, like singing, dancing, and even homework. I'm sure he'll get out of the last one when he starts school.

This last week Reese has acted like he was the one that had back surgery. It really got me thinking that what we, as parents, do really, really affects how our kids grow up and perceive things. Practice what you preach is what we should do. How can we tell our kids not to do something when they see us doing it? It makes me sad to think of children that grow up not hearing about God, seeing there parents do not so nice things, think it is ok for a man to beat a woman, have zero respect for themselves or others and many other things.

Anyone can bring a life into this world but that doesn't make them a parent. What a precious gift God has given to so many that treat the gift worse than some treat a dog. I just don't understand.

So, I think this is a challenge to me and others to be that example that some may never see anywhere else. I know I need to be a better example to my kids too. Some of the things I hear Bailey and Reese say sound just like me! Sometimes it's funny and other times I think "Wow, I sound like that?"

I'll say this last thing. I think it is super important who our kids look up to and are around. They are paying attention even when we have no clue. For example, Reese picked up Bailey's bible a few nights ago and said he was Pastor Chris and he was reading the new old testament. He even prayed after the story! It was the sweetest thing he's ever done. I pray that he and Bailey always look up to people that live their life for God.

Once saved always saved?

I often struggle with this question. I find it hard to understand how self professing Christians act, and do the same things that non-Christians do. I feel I am being judgemental, and I guess I am but......my heart is burdened for them. If one truly believes that what the bible says is true we should want to make sure others KNOW the truth.

I think for the most part, people as a whole, want to believe in God and that Jesus died on the cross to save the world from sin. BUT, the following verse shows that following Jesus is not easy. Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." It's just human nature to go the easy route, but that leads to destruction.

I listened to a sermon last week by David Platt that I found very interesting. It really got me thinking about the above question. I think many are being deceived that all you have to do is say a prayer, ask for forgiveness, and walk down the aisle and that's it, you're done. That is just the beginning. You are born again at the point and the holy spirit dwells in you. Your eyes are opened. I will list some of the notes from the sermon. We can profess publicly what we do not possess personally. Is is possible that one could walk down the aisle and say the right things without REALLY having it? Walking down the aisle itself will not save you.

The way of Christ is always fruitful. James 2:26 "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." I firmly believe that others should see that you are different from "the world" you shouldn't have to tell them you are different, it should show.

The way of Christ is always faithful. Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven." Being obedient to God is key.

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. One must repent. I looked up the definition and this is what it said: Repentance is not merely a change of mind but a radical change in one's life as a whole that especially involves forsaking sin and turning or returning to God. Make a RADICAL change.....we don't keep on doing the same thing. Luke 13:5 "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." That is pretty powerful once you come to a clear understanding of what repentance means.

I really feel like the gospel has been watered down as to not offend anyone. We can't twist and turn God's word to make it say what we want it to say. Sometimes the truth hurts. Once we realize that we have to give up the ways of the world in order to keep what we can't afford to lose (eternal life) it is all worth it.

God is just awesome!

Let me start by saying God is just awesome!!

Poor Denson has to have another back surgery. He will be having 2 fusions on November 2nd. He desperatly needs some relief and although the recovery time will be tough it will be worth it in the long run.

I know you are thinking "God is awesome....back surgery........ummm, I don't get it." So, that brings me to this..... As Denson was leaving the hospital after meeting with his doctor about the surgery, there was a little old lady with a walker that had parked her car pretty much on the ramp of the parking deck. At first Denson just kept on going and was on the phone with his Mom. He told her about the lady and she told him he needed to help her. So, Denson asks the lady if he could help park her car. She said yes of course but there weren't any parking spaces close by. She proceeds to tell him to pull his truck out of his space and then park her car there. The problem with that is a line had began to form and someone was bound to get that spot. Well, the little ond lady with her walker stood in the parking spot, shooing people away until Denson could back her car down the parking deck into his spot. She was very grateful and told him he would be a blessed man for helping her. She asked if there was anything she could pray for. He told her that he just learned that he would be having another back surgery and if she could pray for that he would appreciate it. She said he would be prayed for that night when she said her prayers.

The awesome thing is..... Denson was nervous about the surgery and rightfully so. But, God knew that and through this sweet little old lady gave him what he needed. He said he feels at peace about the surgery now. I just love it when things like that happen and there is no mistaking it was God.

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Lastly, I am just so heartbroken for a friend of mine. She has learned that she has breast cancer for the 2nd time. She beat it once and many prayers are going up for her to be healed again. After beating cancer the 1st time, she suffered the loss of her youngest son AND her Mom within the same week. She is just the sweetest person you can meet and it breaks my heart thinking of what she has had to endure. Please say a prayer for her, her name is Liz.

I know that prayer is very powerful because our prayers are heard by the maker of the universe. That is so hard to fathom sometimes......THE maker of the universe!

In the next few days I'll be posting the latest antics of none other than Reese. One story involves a pop tart and a potato peeler:) That boy has got to be the most creative (and destructive) 2 yr old I know!!

Hope everyone is having a good week!!

Proverbs 13:20

Sunday morning Bailey and I were on our way to church and she didn't say a word the whole way there. We pull into the parking lot and she says "Momma, I think me and Tory are the only ones at school whose parents don't drink & smoke." I didn't know how to respond so I just told her there were probably others too. She told me it used to embarass her that I didn't drink but then she realized Tory's parents didn't either and she was ok. I told her that as christians were are supposed to be different from "the world" and that you couldn't do what others did just because that's what everyone was doing.

After church, on our way home. I asked her what she learned. She recited the memory verse Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Wow....so the lesson she learned went right along with what we had talked about earlier!

I remember growing up and being embarassed because my dad DID drink. How things change. It is so sad that she was embarassed by what we DON'T do. It just seems like the older I get the more you have this world telling you it's ok to do this and that. People are compromising more and more. The bible is God's true and living word. There is no gray area in the bible. No where will you find...."Well, if you're dealt a bad hand YOU don't have to follow ALL of God's word, just the parts you want." If you truly believe how can you not be changed? Matthew 18:3 "And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

I dread what issues we will face during the teenage years. Bailey is a smart kid and I just pray that she and Reese will always remember what they have been taught and that they can influence others in a positive way instead of being influenced negatively.

I have decided to follow Jesus....no turning back.

So I've been inspired by another blog that I read, mycharmingkids.net. MckMama wrote an amazing post. Throughout the day today I kept thinking about the word salvation and a song popped in my head with that word and I can't get it out! I believe in absolute truth and regardless if someone doesn't believe Jesus died on the cross doesn't mean it's not true. I read through my journal tonight and found an entry that I was pretty passionate about at the time. I am glad to be reminded of it and thought I would share. I know, I write about the same things over and over again, but hey, I can't not do it because.... "I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back." (LOVE the new Selah CD and the last sentence is lyrics from an old hymn that they sing on the CD, LOVE IT!)

**Death is an inevitable reality. That fact doesn't make death any easier. But, what does make it bearable is the FACT that this- what we see here is temporary. Your relationship with God through Jesus Christ WILL determine where you will spend eternity, Heaven or Hell. I ask you, not if you believe in God, because the bible, James 2:19 says "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder." But do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? I used to think I was a good enough person and would probably go to heaven. I was wrong! My good enough will never get me there, nor anyone else's. See, Jesus paid the ulitmate price for our sins, all we have to do is accept the gift of salvation. I used to be searching for something. Nothing I found made me happy for a long period of time. One day I was broken and I cried out to God. Jeremiah 29:11-13 is so true - "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." When you seek God you will find Him. He will change your life. II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come." Change will come in your life and God will help you if you allow Him. He will take those desires away and you will become a work in progress.

But, let me warn you that God knows your heart. James 2:26 "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." I'm not saying you can earn your way to heaven but if you are truly saved, you will SEE change. Your friends change, places you go change, shows you watch change, music you listen to changes etc. It's so easy to be "changed" for an hour on Sunday. What about the rest of your week, do you live like a changed person or do you look like the world? Do you read the bible and follow what it says? James 1:22-24 " Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediatley forgets what he looks like." Pretty powerful isn't it?

Jesus Christ is real and changes lives! When you leave this earth, you can't take anything with you. I guarantee you - you will not be wishing you would have drank more, bought a better car, worked more, and so on. Eternity is something hard for us to fathom. Do you want to wait until your at that point to decide what is important? It will be too late then. God is knocking, will you open the door of your heart and let him in?***

So there you go, a little peak inside my journal. Not that this looks like a typical journal entry. I'm not sure what was going on that day but that is what I wrote. Hope everyone's week is going well!

The lost can be found

It is so hard at times to know that everything happens for a reason. At times I wish we could see why. But God loves us and knows what is best. We probably couldn't handle the why any better than the current struggle. Every pain has a purpose. God has a plan for each one of us. He knows the struggles we will go through, the bad decisions we'll make, and more importantly than that, where we will spend an eternity. It may just be me, but it seems like the older I get, the more sad things happen. There are days that I just can't take watching the news or reading blogs. I just get so consumed!

I look back on my life and can see why God placed me on a certain path. I've gone through some tough times but so far I have to say it was worth it. Never thought I would say that. Even with Bailey, at times, I can understand a little, why she's had to go through some things that she really shouldn't have to deal with at her age.

Recently I shared with my Dad the dream I had about my youngest brother. I wrote a post on it back in June. It still bothers me and as a matter of fact it really bothers me that there are sooo many people out there that don't know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I used to be one of those people and just didn't see what the big deal was about religion/God. But, I'll tell you, when I GOT it, I GOT IT! So now, I may seem like a bible thumping, holy roller to some (yes, I've been called that) but that isn't an insult to me. We (christians) are supposed to be different than others. I believe that the Bible is God's true and living word. How can I believe that and not want to share with others what God has done for me?

Lord, I just pray for those that don't know you, that they'll come closer to knowing you today. Thank you Lord that the lost can be found!