Friendship and New Blog!

Dear Friends,

Today is the last day we will post on this blog. Our new blog: http://prayingthroughlife.com

is up and running! We are excited for our new journey and grateful for you who read. It truly is our great joy to write. Please hop over to our new spot and join us as we continue to share what we feel God lays on our heart. 

Thanks for walking through the journey with us!

With Gratitude,

Jill and Leeanne

http://prayingthroughlife.com

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1 Samuel 18:1-3 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

Today is going to be another glorious Carolina day!  I love to get up early and spend time reading and now that Spring is here I love hearing the birds first thing in the morning. The past few weeks I have been thinking about friendship. One of the great things about Facebook is that I have had the joy to reconnect with some old friends. I had 4 roommates my freshman and sophomore year in college - one true roommate and two suite mates. We formed a close bond and were like sisters. All our birthdays were 7 days apart. We were inseparable. Then life begins to unfold our stories and we go in different directions. We have connected again through the marriages, pains of divorce, children, careers, states that separate, and then, initially, uncertain of whether the bond was still intact.

Gratefully, the bond is there and I would say after 23 years, it is stronger. This summer we are having a "reunion" at our friends home in Florida. I cannot wait to hug them all and share the stories of lives together since we walked across that stage.

Then, over Easter, I got to see two sweet friends I literally grew up at my parent's church. These are girls I went to kindergarten with. We embraced and chatted and I ended both conversations with them with an "I love you". Real bonds are there. Even after 25 years. When you have truly walked through life with people - the good and bad - there is a bond. It cannot be removed by human hands. I left church Sunday happy for many reasons. But, it brought back so many amazing memories of people who truly have shaped my life. David and Jonathan in scripture had a bond that could not be broken. It was such a deep affection for each other that only could be given by God himself.

Monday, I was working out at the Y and a friend I don't see often, but have recently reconnected with, came over and we were chatting. We got into a deep conversation about a few things going on in our lives and her words and attentiveness to me blessed me so much. I felt the Lord personally sent her over to talk to me and give me the words I need for that day.

So many different scenarios of friendship- college friendships, friends from birth, a friend walking over giving an encouraging word- all equally extravagant.

I am also in awe of how God brings people into your life that are new friends but exactly what you need for "such a time as this". Whether 30 year friendships or 3 month friendships, they are special. They are beautiful. Sometimes, they get messy. Sometimes they disappoint. Sometimes expectations get out of sorts. Sometimes they must end. But, today, I stand in great awe and wonder of those friends in my life that pour into me. That know me and want to be a part of my life. I am grateful for those friends that check in on me, pray for me, care for me, and don't judge me. They spur me on and build me up and make me laugh. Those are the friendships I cherish today. And in all of them, a thread of grace is woven deeply into the roots of our lives. We all need grace. We all need friends.

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Today we are linking up at: http://holleygerth.com/coffee-for-your-heart-love/

Go check out the site! It is beautiful and encouraging! 

With JOY,

Leeanne

Easter

Yesterday, I was actually folding laundry (shocker to me too) and thinking about Good Friday. It was around 3pm which is close to the biblical account for when Jesus actually submitted His spirit over and died. I thought to myself how insignificant of a task I am doing right now in comparison to Christ's death on the cross. I wasn't feeling convicted or thought I should run out and proclaim Christ to someone at that very moment but it was a quiet reminder to me how magnificient the cross is. How 2000 years later I can fold laundry and feel this deep sense of gratitude and grief all mixed in one thought. Grief for my sin and grateful for a sin bearer. 

I cannot and will never be able to pay for the penalty of my sin. But Christ did. Once - covered.  Today, I plan to think about what the disciples and those who loved Jesus must have felt like the day after His death. Were they completely drained of all hope?  What about Mary, his Mother? Where would they look for joy?  It is good to think about these things. The sin and shame of the cross is real and I don't want to not think about it this weekend. 

The question I want to ask myself personally today is this - Am I fighting sin in my own life?
Grateful for the cross,
Leeanne

The Crucifixion       33And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.       35And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. 36And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. 37And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”       38At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42“He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43“HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HEDELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.       45Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” 47And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” 50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”       55Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him.56Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

The Triumphant Entry

This past Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday. The irony of Palm Sunday and then Good Friday have always puzzled me. Ironic because one day we celebrate the arrival of the fulfillment of the Messiah and days later we murder Him. It is weighty to grasp the change of the human heart in just a matter of days but in reality my heart is just like that. 

One minute I can praise Him with hands raised and a spirit consumed with joy and then days later completely sin against His holy name. Sometimes it isn't' conscious. Sometimes it is purposeful. 

Our pastor said something on Sunday that has consumed my thoughts this week. He said one day we will stand before God and He will say, "Why did you live in rebellion against my Holy Name"? 

Wow. 

What will I say?  I told my husband that I don't think at that moment, being face to face with the Creator of the Universe, I will be able to formulate all the "good things" I have done.  Lord, "I served at church, I rocked babies in the nursery, I took meals to friends when they were sick, I love my husband and children well.... Lord, I did a lot of great things in your name".

No... I won't be saying that. I don't think I'll even be able to hold my head up and view His holiness. I think I will be bowed on my face before Him and say, "Lord, I'm a sinner covered with the blood of Jesus. That is all I bring you is the blood of Christ". 

I believe that is what will happen. And because of the perfect work of Christ on the cross, I can confidently say that God will look at me and say, "well done".

He will not look at my heart, my sins, my good deeds. He will overlook all of that because I am washed in the blood of Jesus.

That is why I smile this week. It is a weighty week for those who love Jesus. But it is a beautiful story of an unrelenting Savior after His people. 

Washed in the blood.. Cross.. Redeemed... Forgiven... Christ...  Risen... 

That is Easter. Do you know Jesus?  

"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31)

With Great Hope in Him,
Leeanne

 Matthew 21:1-11:

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

God's Action or Inaction

This devotional resonated with me today. There are so many things I am praying and waiting on an answer for. The Lord is faithful whether He is silent or speaking. As I was writing in my journal this month, my prayers started with "Dear Lord, please allow this, this, and this, to happen. Please grant us favor with this or this or this"...  After weeks of pouring it out and feeling frustrated I realized my heart needed to change. This week I wrote, "Lord, grant us any and every request if it is for our good. If your plans are different then they are better and we receive them with joy".  This week, my heart has been light and joyful. Not because the answers have come but I know He is faithful to provide exactly what we need.

With joy,
Leeanne


Praying and Waiting
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Habakkuk 2:1

Additional Scripture Readings: Psalm 130:5–7; Lamentations 3:24–26

There are so many ways in which God’s actions or inactions make little sense
to us. We ask him for help, and he is silent. We trust in him to provide, and
he withholds. But is God inconsistent, or is he simply running according to
another time schedule, another set of priorities?

Habakkuk questions God’s plan to use the pagan nation of Babylon to discipline
wayward Israel. He then settles in to wait for God’s answer: “I will stand at
my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will
say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1).
Like a guard who waits through his watch with eyes peeled for a sign of
movement, Habakkuk waited for God.

So must we. We must pray with a willingness to wait and wait with a
willingness to pray. Waiting and praying go together. Like two shoes of a pair
or two halves of a whole, they work as a team. 

NIV Devotions for Moms
Bible Gateway

Joy

James 1:2-4  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 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 anything.

Perspective is everything.  Did you ever stop in the middle of a bad situation and re-frame it to look totally different?  James says to, "Consider it pure joy, " in the midst of a trial.  I can assure you this does not come natural to thank The Lord as some has just stolen your purse and wallet, when the stomach flu is making it's round in your family, when your best friend has just been diagnosed with cancer.  You name the trial.  What are you dealing with today?

This past weekend a lovely virus decided to pay a visit to our home.  And this is a week that my husband is traveling.  Here are two thought patterns:

Thought Pattern #1

- Why does this always happen to me?

- Now I'm not going to be able to get a good night sleep.

- I will have to call in sick to work and make sub plans, which is not fun.

Thought Pattern #2

- Thank you Lord for everyone not having this illness all at the same time.

- Thank you for allowing me to have a day off to spend with my child alone.

- Thank you Lord for choosing me to nurse my children back to health.

Considering any trial pure joy does not come naturally in the flesh.  Notice that all of my thoughts from the first one are all about me.  The second one is about God and others.  A simple acronym that I learned years ago was, If your want pure JOY, put J-esus first, O-thers second and then Y-ourself.  It has proven to be a good motto in my own life.  God has a plan and purpose in all of our trials.

With Joy, Jill

Testimony Tuesday

We are so blessed to have our friend Kim Braddy share her testimony with us!  You will be blessed by God's faithfulness in her life!

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Blessings

So often when I think of blessings, I think about all the amazing things God has blessed me with:  air to breathe, sunshine, my home, dinner, my sweet kids or my awesome husband.  That's what I use to think about when I thought of blessings.  That was before the sad loss of 4 babies during 3 pregnancies.  After my first daughter was born, I found out I was expecting again less than a year after her birth.  We were so excited to be having another baby and expanding our family and felt so thankful that the Lord allowed us to get pregnant so easily.  I went to my 10 week appointment at the OB and heard the sweet sound of my baby's beating heart!  

I went back a month later for an ultrasound and knew the moment the screen popped up that something was wrong.  There was just no movement at all. The Dr. just stared at me and said they were sorry and asked if I needed a minute.  I was left in the room sobbing with my one year old in the stroller.  All I wanted to do was hold her and cry!  I remember calling my mom and my husband and telling them that our baby had died.  I had so many questions.  The baby was healthy with a strong heart beat just a few weeks earlier.  How could something like this happen?  I am a healthy person and my first pregnancy was perfect.  What could have gone wrong?  Did I do something that caused this to happen?

 As any woman who has dealt with this knows, there are no answers to these questions.  The Dr. explained that with all the things that have to come together just right in a pregnancy, that there is a surprisingly high percentage of the time that something doesn't happen just right and your body's way of dealing with that is for the pregnancy to stop growing.  Of course, this answer is not helpful because it is really not an answer at all.  

They are basically saying they have no idea why this happens but it sometimes just does.  Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts or my ways your ways, declares the Lord.  As the Heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts".  I cried for days and wondered if I would ever again open my eyes in the morning and this not be the first thing I think about. Lamentations 3:22-23 "The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness."  Would I ever be able to get pregnant again?  Would this happen again if I did?  

Well, both questions were quickly answered.  I got pregnant just a few months later, only to miscarry once again.  The first time this happened I was so full of sorrow; but this time I was angry.  I had been walking with the Lord for about 5 years at this point in my life and didn't understand how He could let this happen.  It almost felt mean.  Why not just keep me from getting pregnant in the first place?  I was angry and I told God all about it, even though He already knew my heart.  After continuing to wrestle with God about this, I had 2 more healthy, beautiful children a few years later.  However, when my son was almost 3, I once again found myself in the Dr.'s office for some weird symptoms that I was concerned about.  I thought the Dr. was going to tell me that I had an infection, but to my surprise, the Dr. told me I was pregnant.  This was a complete shock!  My husband and I thought we were "done" having kids. 

   Part two tomorrow....  

Teach Us to Pray

Luke 11:1 Lord, teach us to pray.

This weekend at church I was challenged and asked if my prayers were more for my own comfort, safety and current events in my life or were they more heavenly-minded, gospel-centered and mission minded? 

During our nightly devotions as a family, we all take turns praying.  My six year old likes to go first and his prayers are sweet, but do not vary much.  He thanks God for the roof over our head, food on the table and whatever he had fun doing that day.  He may occasionally pray for someone or something else but he is growing. My middle one who is seven is my prayer warrior.  She prays for everything and everyone.  She has a tree in the front yard she calls her, "praying tree".  She climbs it and prays.  She prays without thinking about it.  Such an example.  My oldest prays from her heart and is deep and serious.  I remember one night listening to her on the monitor when she was five years old.  She was praying to Jesus and said, "I asked you into my heart Jesus and I will never ask you out.  I will never say to come in and go out."  I laughed and cried at the same time.

My prayers vary.  The more tired I am and the less time I spend with God and in his Word, the weaker and more temporal are my prayers.  I thank Him for the day, where I saw His hand at work and pray for the next day.  As I write this, I am coming off a two week break from school.  I've had lots of rest, relaxation, play time, getting caught up on life and mostly had an abundance of time with Him and in His Word.  I feel close to my  Heavenly Father and my prayers are so much more potent.  I am reminded that we were created for Heaven.  Heaven is my home and ultimate destination. Do my daily prayers reflect that?  Sadly, not always.  But today, I'm so thankful for this time of renewal.  

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me from myself.  Thank you for choosing me to be part of your Kingdom.  You have transformed my life and heart and I'm forever grateful.  Lord, I pray that you continue to grow me and mold me into your Son's image.  Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.  Strengthen and protect my marriage from the demands of a busy life. Help me to be an example for my children, to rear them in such a way that their foundation is unshakeable when they leave our house because You are their rock.  I pray that others come to know  You and Your saving grace through the way we live and the choices we make.  Give my children the boldness to stand firm in their faith and not be wooed by the temptations in this world.  Teach us to love like You love.  In Christ's name, Amen.

Testimony Part Two

Welcome back to Part Two of Becca's testimony!  Becca, thank you for blessing us with your story and for the end where you show How much He loves us!  

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On January 11, 2013, my first week of classes, I met a girl named Kaitlyn. I was lead to ask her about the cross bracelet she was wearing, and after class we spent hours just talking. I told her all about my life, and the guy I had been dating, and how just depressed I felt. And she listened. She didn’t judge me or condemn me for all the sins I kept committing. She told me all about her life, and how unpleasant it had been at moments. But the JOY she had just radiated off her, and it really got me thinking. If somebody who has been through some pretty rough stuff in her life as well could feel this joyful because of this Jesus guy, well I want what she has.

Kaitlyn asked for my number, and over the next few weeks she texted me and kept inviting me to church. Finally, after the 3rd time of asking, I went with her. I will never forget the sermon preached that Sunday. The preacher talked about how we all have “thorns” in our life, crosses we have to bear, but we are given these in order to bring us closer to God. We are all so self-indulged, that unless we felt a need to have Christ in our life, we wouldn’t even try.

Wow. What a powerful sermon it was. So I started reading my Bible every night like I did in high school, going through the motions again, thinking that would make me a true Christian. But it just wasn’t working.

Fast forward to February 13th, 2013. I started feel depressed again. I was hopeless, lonely and felt like nothing would ever get better. The walls felt like they were closing in and I was crying so hard I couldn’t breathe. I picked up my phone and texted Kaitlyn. She didn’t even hesitate, she told me to come over. I spent a few hours over at Kaitlyn’s that night telling her how frustrated I was and that I just couldn’t do it alone anymore. So we prayed together and then she prayed over me. I gave my life to Christ that night. I still wasn’t sure what that meant, but I was willing to find out.

It has been about a year since I accepted Christ into my life. My life definitely isn’t perfect – but through all the pain and the trials, I have a HOPE that I NEVER had before. Depression is a battle that I fight everyday – but now I can fight it with the Truth of God’s Word. He has blessed me with so many Christian friends that are such an encouragement to me. He has healed my relationship with my mom – we finally have the relationship that I have always wanted with her. I am doing my best to live for Christ’s will for my life, and not my own. I know now that I am never alone, because God is always there for me even when the whole world walks out.

Because Christ loves me and you SO MUCH,  He gave HIS ONLY SON, to DIE FOR US. What the crap y’all… there is no love greater than that. Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.

We are all here for a purpose, GOD’S PURPOSE. Give up your life to Christ. He loves you and just wants to adopt you as His Child. If you have any questions after reading this, please don’t hesitate to ask !

In Christ, Becca

Testimony Tuesday Part One

Friends,
Today continues our new series where we have a guest blogger who shares their testimony with us!  Becca Simmons is a friend to us and she is a junior at NC State University. She is currently majoring in Animal Science. Her testimony is a blessing and you will be captivated by her transparency and story! Part Two is coming tomorrow so stay tuned!

With great JOY in His salvation,
Leeanne
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I grew up in a big family with 4 siblings and both my parents. I didn’t exactly grow up in a Christian family but we did attend the important holidays and maybe some other Sundays if we all felt like getting up. I wasn’t taught the Word, and never really understood what it meant to be a Christian.

Around the time I was 16 my family had stopped going to church, but I kept going most Sundays. I went to youth group and even attended mission trips every summer. I thought I was doing what I was SUPPOSED to be doing as a Christian. Right? Wrong.

I can’t put my fingers on the first time I really felt depressed but it was probably around the time I was in 8th grade and had just switched schools. In high school, as the years went on, I got more depressed and withdrew more and more from my friends and family. I started going from guy to guy, hoping that something would fill the hole that I felt was growing bigger. By the time I was a senior in high school, I had lost pretty much all my friends because I was just never in the mood to hang out. I started partying and drinking and doing all sorts of drugs, just because I WANTED to fit in so bad. I was dating a guy at the time, and did all sorts of physical things with him just to feel wanted.

Then college came around. I was so pumped to FINALLY make some friends, and then maybe my depression would just disappear. Right? Wrong again my friend. Freshmen year of college was one of the roughest years. I started hanging out with all these different people, joined a sorority, slept around, partying it up, I started doing cocaine pretty heavily, hoping that something would finally make me feel whole and happy. Unfortunately, everything I did just made my depression worse.

My sophomore year came around, and I was back ‘friendless.’ The only person I really had in my life was the guy I was dating, but that was purely a physical relationship. I didn’t know where to go or who I could turn to that would just listen. I started cutting myself to ease the pain, started planning how I would kill myself. One night, during winter break of my sophomore year, I had just gotten into a huge fight with my mom. She told me she hated me, and I finally decided that enough was enough. If my mom hated me, then I must really be unlovable. I got into my car, and started driving like a maniac. I told myself that if I drove fast enough into a tree, then maybe, just MAYBE, it would kill me instantly and all this pain would be over.

Now I know that it was all the Holy Spirit, but at the time I couldn’t have told you what stopped me from crashing my car that night. When I went back to school after break in January, I was lifeless. I would literally crawl out of bed, only looking forward to the next time I would be able to get back into bed. I didn’t want to live anymore, but I was too afraid to kill myself because what if death was worse. So I just existed, and man it was horrible.

Announcement and Burdens of Today

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce that our blog will be moving over to Wordpress in a couple of weeks. We feel that Wordpress best meets our needs for hosting our blog and all the big dreams we have for the future! The Lord has been so very kind to Jill and me and when our writing adventures began several years ago we never thought we would see it come as far as it has. He has given us vision and goals for the years ahead and we are eager to obey and walk in faith. We will continue to post here and on our new blog for the next two weeks then we will turn off our blogspot blog. You can go ahead and check out our new spot at Wordpress. It will match the current content we post here as well.

http://prayingthroughlife.com

Grateful to walk through life with you all!
Leeanne and Jill

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Burdens of Today

"Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."   Matthew 6:34

I am type A personality.  I joke and often say OCD, although that is nothing to joke about, but I definitely have tendencies.  My tasks and responsibilities often become my burdens.  Why is it on a Friday after teaching school I can go outside and play with my children in the driveway, play a board game and watch a movie with my husband feeling fine about it all?  Monday-Thursday after school I am a different person.  I am focused on chores, tasks and the responsibility of making sure it's all done.  

This winter we have had several snow days (as most people!).  As soon as the next day is called off, I am back to the me I get along with best (and the one everyone else gets along with best).  I have often looked around me so accusatory.  If she would just make her lunch, if he would finish his homework, if she would just take her shower and get ready for bed, if I could just finish folding this laundry, etc.....then I would be able to relax and get along with people better.  

The truth of the matter is, it's me- it's my issues that I am projecting on everyone else.  Yes, if they would just do their task (s) then I would be able to relax more.  But, like weekends and snow days, if I would just relax, things might get done with more peace for all.  Do you have anything that is more your issue than others, but you keep blaming the others for your issue?

God has started to work on this with me.  Taking the unnecessary, stressful emotions out of the day to day routine.  If I can do it on a snow day, weekends, and track outs than I can certainly do it otherwise.  In the meantime, I'll be working on making small changes and trying to not be anxious about getting ready for tomorrow.  

Warmly,

Jill

Guest Post Tuesday Testimony

Dear Friends,

Jill and I are excited to announce that on Tuesday's we will have guest posts from friends sharing their testimonies on how Jesus changed their life. Today, our dear friend, Sherri Ferguson, shares part of her testimony on how God used her husband's job loss to radically change their lives and their faith. Today, is Part I of her story!  You WILL be blessed!

Walk in Faith,

Leeanne

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Part One

Testimony of the 4 past years (2010-2014)

God is good all the time and provides in ways I wouldn’t imagine. Isaiah 55 tells me that His ways and His thoughts are higher than mine and really His thoughts and ways are not my ways, they are much better. This story deals with my husband’s job, job loss and life after that.

My husband received word about 18 months before the job loss happened that there was some chance their contract would not be renewed. However, we had no idea when and really we thought it probably wouldn’t happen because the relationship between the two companies was great. However, the Lord laid it on our hearts and minds to prepare.

The Lord, in His infinite goodness, had prepared us four years earlier when we bought our home, although we didn’t know it then. We were looking at many properties, some priced much higher (and of course nicer) and yet no peace came. We settled on our current home, with a tiny mortgage and the Lord has given us much joy. Psalm 16 says that He will fill me with joy in His presence, with eternal pleasures at His right hand.  So now we started saving, cutting back by saying no to even spending $4 with a friend at a coffee shop and putting money away for the “lean years” that could possibly come. Little did we know there would be 2 ½ lean years! Almost 3, but who’s counting J

In June of 2011 my husband, and many of his colleagues, lost their jobs. He received a severance package which was a blessing we don’t deserve and it was s t r e t c h e d mightily… but alas it was gone. The Lord’s very first tangible gift He gave us was from friends who were moving away. They received word that they had to leave 6 weeks earlier than they planned and so she asked me to come over with laundry baskets (plural) and she literally loaded them up with food for us. WOW! I came home with a month of groceries for my family. The Lord is so good to take this event and mold me. He knew my heart and inside my heart I wanted cash in the bank, I wanted to look and see a certain $ number but He was not going to give me that. He was going to provide food that my family needed to live, not cash in the bank. During this time the Lord continued to cultivate relationships with people, new friends and old friends. He refined my husband and I by taking away some friends and bringing in new ones for specific reasons and with specific purposes to pour into our lives. Friends that boldly challenged us in our marriage and personally in our walks with Christ.

My husband applied for countless jobs, went on interviews and second interviews and the Lord closed every door. Then there would be an interview with another company, closer to home, better hours and we thought surely Lord this is what we were waiting for, and again a closed door.  So a dear friend, actually his accountability partner said too my husband, “why don’t you start thinking outside the box, do you have to cook?” My husband had been in the kitchen for 25 years, of course he had to cook … or did he. In the meantime, my old boss from a previous job, called me to interview again, we met and it was wonderful, but he wanted a full time position and with 2 young children, I couldn’t work full time, besides, my husband is going back to work soon. This is what I told him. 

Stay tuned for Part Two tomorrow!

Shop Hungry?

Luke 10:41-42
"But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Do you ever go shopping hungry?  You come home only to realize that you spent a lot more money than usual and you have many more items that would not have ended up in your cart if you just ate a snack before you left.  Our physical appetite is much like our spiritual appetite.  When we leave the house spiritually hungry (or empty) we will fill that emptiness with something.  Unfortunately, it is usually the world.

This is just food for thought (pun intended).  They say that your day is often defined by the first five things you do.  That made me think.  Here are two scenarios of how my day could start off...let's say on a weekend with less structure, since my weekdays are more scripted.  Look at the cause and possible effects.  

Scenario 1:  I wake up, grab my iPad and check the weather.  This makes me think about what I will wear for the day.  Then I decide to quickly check Facebook and see what comments or likes other people have made.  I then see a couple interesting posts, watch a cool video someone shared and then that reminds me I need to research something.  I quickly research.  Then I mine as well check my email.  I decide to save a few that can wait, but respond to several that I've been putting off.  Over 45 minutes just passed.  Then one of my children come in and tell me how hungry they are and that they already had a banana and two handfuls of cereal.  So, I get out of bed and go make breakfast.  Clean the kitchen.  Start some laundry.  Walk the dogs.  By now two hours have passed.  I'm still in my pajamas and realize that I have not spent one minute with The Lord.  By now, I'm frustrated by the egg I dropped on the floor, disgruntled that two of my kids keep arguing and mad that I wasted all that time in bed "checking up on the world."

Scenario 2:  I wake up, grab my iPad and read the next two chapters in  Matthew.  I pause and reread verses that speak to me.  I ask The Lord to reveal to me what He is trying to speak to me through His Word and how I can apply it to my life.  Then I click on a church app that I like to hear their sermons.  I listen, take notes and laugh at his jokes.  Then I decide to finish a blog post that I started last week.  For me, this is a great time of reflection on how God has worked in my life and how His Word is ever-present and applicable to my life.  Then Titus walks in and says that he already ate a banana and had two handfuls of cereal and is hungry.  I get out of bed and cheerfully go make the family a healthy breakfast.  I continue to reflect on God's goodness in my life and what He has in store for me that day.  

Both scenarios have happened often. The way I start my day truly makes a difference in the outcome of my mood, choices, the way I treat people and activities.  When I am spiritually filled up and sured up I do not feel hungry or deprived.  I do not feel a need to reach out to the world in a needy way filling it with junk food.  This post is a great reminder to myself and how I want to start my days.  

Warmly,

Jill

Miriam

Friends,
New things are coming to the blog next week! We are so excited to announce tons of fun, new changes.  Stay tuned!  Enjoy this devotional on Miriam.

His,
Leeanne

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Women of the Bible

Miriam
======
Her name means: "Bitterness"

Her character: Even as a young girl, she showed fortitude and wisdom. A leader
of God's people at a crucial moment in history, she led the celebration after
crossing the Red Sea and spoke God's word to his people, sharing their
forty-year journey through the wilderness. / Her sorrow: That she was struck
with leprosy for her pride and insubordination and was denied entry into the
Promised Land. / Her joy: To have played an instrumental role in the
deliverance of God's people, a nation she loved. / Key Scriptures: Exodus
2:1-10; 15:20-21; Numbers 12:1-15

Her Story
=========
Seven days, I must stay outside the camp of my people, an old woman, fenced in
by memories of what has been.

How could I forget our years in Egypt, the cries of the mothers whose children
were murdered or the moans of our brothers as they worked themselves to death?
I have only to shut my eyes and see—the wall of water, the soldiers chasing us
through the sea, the sounds of their noisy drowning, and, finally, the silence
and the peace. How I miss the singing of the women I led that day, dancing at
the sea's edge, praising God for hurling our enemies into the deep waters,
certain we would never see them again.

But we did see them again—our enemies, though not the Egyptians. We let
ingratitude stalk and rob us of our blessings. We preferred the garlic and
leeks of Egypt, the food of our slavery, to the manna the good God gave us.
Enslaved to fear, we refused to enter the land of promise.

Time and again Moses and Aaron and I exhorted the people to stand firm, to
have faith, to obey God. But there came a day when Aaron and I could stand
with our brother no longer. Instead we spoke against him and his Cushite wife.
What part did she, a foreigner to our suffering, have in the promise? So we
challenged Moses. Had the Lord spoken only through him? All Israel knew
better. We deserved an equal share in his authority, an equal say in how to
lead the people.

But the Lord who speaks also heard our complaint and summoned the three of us
to stand before him at the Tent of Meeting. He addressed Aaron and me with
terrible words.

When the cloud of his presence finally lifted, I was a leper. I could see the
horror on every face turned toward me. Aaron begged Moses to forgive us both.
And Moses cried out to the Lord to heal me.

The Lord replied, "If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been
in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after
that she can be brought back." Then at least I knew my banishment was
temporary; my disease would be healed.

Now I see that my enemies were not merely buried in the sea but in my own
heart as well. Still, God has let me live, and I believe he will heal me.
Though he brings grief, he will yet show compassion. One thing I know, he has
hurled my pride into the sea and for that I will also sing his praises.

...Though Scripture doesn't reveal Miriam's thoughts or the attitude of her
heart after she was chastened for complaining about Moses, it is not
unreasonable to think she repented during the seven days of her banishment.

After all, it's not easy for a person of faith, however flawed, to hear God
speaking as though he were spitting on her and still to hold fast to her
error.

Perhaps Miriam, and the nation itself, needed a shocking rebuke in order to
recognize the seriousness of a sin that threatened the unity of God's people.

Why, you might ask, wasn't Aaron similarly afflicted for his sin? Perhaps
because Miriam seemed to be the ringleader. Perhaps, also, because God didn't
want the worship of the tabernacle to be disrupted by Aaron's absence as high
priest.

The last we hear of Miriam is that she died and was buried in Kadesh Barnea,
not all that far from where Hagar, another slave woman, had encountered an
angel in the wilderness so many years earlier. Like her brothers Moses and
Aaron, Miriam died shortly before the Israelites ended their forty-year
sojourn in the desert. She, too, was prevented from entering the Promised
Land.

Still, like them, Miriam is one of the great heroes of our faith. As a young
girl, she helped save the infant Moses, Israel's future deliverer. Herself a
prophetess, she exhorted and encouraged God's people and led the singing of
the first psalm ever recorded in Scripture. Yet, strong though she was, she,
like all of us, sinned against God and suffered a punishment designed to bring
her to repentance.

Her Promise
===========
Miriam's story offers an extraordinary example of God's willingness to forgive
those who sin. Though she had to pay the consequences for her actions—seven
days of exclusion from the camp and from all those who loved her—she reentered
the camp a forgiven woman. Hundreds of years later, she is remembered by the
prophet Micah as a leader of Israel with Moses and Aaron (Micah 6:4).

Such liberating forgiveness is available to us as well as to Miriam. God looks
with judgment at our sin, waits patiently for our repentance, and then eagerly
offers his forgiveness and acceptance. We reenter fellowship with him renewed
and clean and forgiven. Our repentance turns a legacy of judgment and
punishment into a legacy of forgiveness and worthiness before God.

Today's reading taken from" Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture" by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Print copies are available at the Bible Gateway store: http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=5&ms=NDUzMDkwNjYS1&r=Mjc0NTIzMzM4MjUS1&b=2&j=NDAxMTcyMTEyS0&mt=1&rt=0 

Our Boy

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 When I found out I was pregnant with my third child and it was a boy, I was a little nervous.  I was used to girls and not really sure how I would handle raising a boy.  Many of my friends warned me that boys are wide open, full of energy and untamable at times.  Then came along Titus.

He was nothing like I had prepared myself for.  He was sweet, tender, well-behaved and wanted to do what his big sisters were doing.  At first, this was cute...especially when they would put dresses on him.  It quickly became obvious to my husband and I that he was choosing to play with "girl" things more than "boy" things.  The world would say, let him be who he is.  Give into his desires to play with girl things.  My husband, being a guy's guy, was having a fit when he would want to play with barbies or other girlie things.  We made a conscious decision to train him to be a boy, point out the differences between boys and girls (besides the obvious), encourage boy activities, have regular wrestle time with daddy and we started cultivating boy friendships and having boy play dates.

My boy, Titus, is still sweet, tender, and (mostly) well-behaved.  The difference now, he desires to play boy things including creative play, toys, wrestling, etc. more than girl things. The other day one of the girls was aggravating him and he turned and burped and blew it in her face.  She was, of course, appalled.  I, secretly, cheered and pulled my closed fist to my hip in victory- only a boy would do that to his sister, right?

God says to not conform to the patterns of this world.  He says he made us in his image and the likeness of man, not the likeness of a woman.  It is my job as his mama to steer him in the right direction to being a godly man.

Warmly,

Jill

Jesus, Our Friend

Abraham Lincoln wrote to a friend during his presidency and said, “"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships”. If you think about friendship there are so many emotions that can come to your mind. Hopefully, most are wonderful feelings, but sometimes they can bring emotions of sadness, heartache, desire for more, and loneliness. Friendships drive so much of our life and God’s word has so much to say on this topic.

We have the great example of David and Jonathan and how in I Samuel 23:16 it says, “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. Many years of David’s life was spent hiding in a cave, terrified, lonely, and anxious and Jonathan went and ministered to him". It is a beautiful example of how a friend can hold you up when you need help and encourage you when you are down. I love how this scripture focuses on “strength in the Lord”.  Jonathan knew the only way David’s soul would rest from the anxiousness of his circumstances was in speaking the truth of who God is over him. I am certain Jonathan reminded him of the attributes and promises of God.

Sadly, there are other examples in scripture of friends that had significant conflict and had to dissolve their relationship. Paul and Barnabas were close friends and they had a quarrel (Acts 15:36-42). The disagreement was so intense that they parted ways and we don’t have any biblical knowledge that they ever saw each other again.

While these are two contrasts in friendship in scripture, ultimately, we look to Jesus Christ as our model of a loyal and loving friend. John 11:5 shows He had a close relationship with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. It says, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus”. When Mary and Martha were grieving over the death of Lazarus it says that Jesus was moved with compassion and he wept.

Beyond the earthly example of His friendship, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross shows us the ultimate display of love for our eternal security.  Romans 5:7-9 states, “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him”.

Jesus Christ is the greatest friend we can have. He was a friend to all - prostitutes, tax collectors, liars, adulterers, murderers, and ALL sinners. Do you know Him?  Do you know the depth of His love?  If you do, praise Him today and worship Him for His sacrifice on the cross so that we may live!

In His great love,

Leeanne