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I♥Jesus

Crazy, chaotic, and awesome…

I haven’t been writing much lately… actually for a few months; and I know I’ve lost some readers in that time. It’s okay, and I understand. Life has been hectic (and somewhat insane) as it so often can be, and I’ve struggled to find the time to really focus on putting thoughts to paper (or keyboard in this case). I’ve missed it, I must admit. I’ve missed giving my thoughts a voice; I’ve missed sharing that voice with you; and I’ve missed, most of all, the interaction between us.

It is so heart-warming to know that there is someone else out there who feels the way I do about something; someone who is or has had the same struggles as me; someone who understands what it means to be a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and child of God… and how stressful this life can be. Logically, I know, we all know, that we aren’t alone in this world. But sometimes it’s hard to see another person’s chaos when we look beyond our front door steps. Sometimes it seems as if everyone around us is so well put together that we are the odd duck in a sea of swans. The reality is, however, that we are all swans. We’re all the same, even when the water is murky.

Yesterday started the third week of the new school year… I, once again, have eight glorious hours of alone time. Do you know what one can do with eight hours of alone time? I had forgotten until recently. Though I do miss the kids (have to get used to the “back to school” routine all over again), it is wonderful to have this time to myself. I’ve finally set my office hours since, unlike last school year, I’m a work-from-home-mom.  I have wonderful quiet time to spend in prayer; time to catch up with online friends and reading; and time to really pace myself. There is more value to school that just the kids’ educations! We are planning a move soon (same school district, different location)– mid September we’re hoping– and having this time is going to be really beneficial to getting things planned and ready.

Speaking of the upcoming move… I have prayed over this (our house on the market; finding a new home, etc) for months. Literally, months. I was convinced a few months ago that we’d be moving by the beginning of the summer. That has, of course, come and gone. I did feel a little let down, but realized that I must be patient and wait on God’s timing. After all, He is the one who knows our (my family’s) future. I started praying that He would send the right person to us… the one He wanted to see in our house. The funny thing about prayer is… when you ask, you receive.

Three weeks ago, hubs and I began talking about the possibility of renting the house while it is up for sale. It has been sitting there empty all this time (do you know what happens to an un-lived-in house?) and wasn’t doing us any good. We weren’t making anything off it, and were in fact losing money that we can’t afford to lose. We talked about renting it for all of about an hour on a Friday night, and decided we’d talk about it more later. The following Monday, I received a call from an incredibly wonderful woman who was interested in buying, but wanted to know if we’d consider renting for a year with an option to buy. We hadn’t even finished discussing the possibilities of renting… hadn’t made definite plans, hadn’t done anything. And this woman just fell right into our laps. Remember what I asked for in prayer? That God would send us the right person? Well, she and I talked several times and each time just confirmed in my mind that this was orchestrated by God Himself. Our house is officially leased now!

I also prayed that God would show us where He wanted us to make our home. The Thursday following Monday’s call regarding our house, I received a call regarding a house for us. We looked at it that evening and both of us knew right then that it was the one for us. Both our minds were made up before even discussing it… without any doubts whatsoever. In four days time, God not only brought us the person who belongs in our house, but He also showed us the house in which we belong.  God’s perfect timing!

Life has been crazy and chaotic; stressful and unorganized; and feeling completely out of control at times… but the greatest part is knowing that even when it feels out of control, God is always in control! I don’t have to worry or stress or fear… God is always there and He is awesome! (Now if He would just take care of this toothache for me! Ha.. only kidding, sort of.)

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Fulfilling His Prayers

Scripture: John 17:6-12

“I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.” John 17:9

Just as Jesus’ work was not scattershot, hoping to hit God’s target, neither are His prayers. There is a plan in action here. It isn’t that Jesus doesn’t care for the world– His familiar statement in John 3:16 would rule that out, as would verse 31 of the same prayer. Rather, He knows that the fate of the world is dependent on the faith of those who have followed Him. His sovereignty will accomplish His purposes, but in His sovereignty He designated simple human beings as His means for reaching the world. If they fail, the message He has entrusted to them is lost. If they falter, the spread of the gospel is limited or corrupted. The gospel mission of the Son of God is now dependent on the disciples He has called.

The situation has not changed. The gospel mission of the Son of God is still dependent on the disciples He has called.  His kingdom is being built by His ministry through those who can envision it and who rely on Him. We are active participants in the mission of God.

For that reason, we can apply Jesus’ high priestly prayer to us. Just as He prayed specifically for the eleven who were with Him that final night, His strategic prayers are still targeted on us. The exalted Savior still makes intercession on our behalf at the throne of the Father (Hebrews 7:25). Our High Priest has not left us in this world alone with a message to tell and no support for telling it. He is not just a heavenly observer. He is an active participant in the work He initiated.

If ever we feel weak or alone int he work to which God has called us, we can turn to John 17 and read Jesus’ prayer. It is a prayer for us, and the Son of God does not have unanswered prayers. His will is one with the Father’s, and His prayers are accomplished. Dwell on this encouraging thought: If you belong to the Father through faith in the Son, the Son is praying for you even now.

~~~~~
Devotional from:
The One Year At His Feet Devotional
by Chris Tiegreen
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
http://www.tyndale.com

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Awed by the little ones; to be like the little ones…

WOW is all I can say!

Our VBS (Vacation Bible School) started yesterday, and this year instead of doing the usual programs where the kids break into classes, we are doing Mega Sports Camp. The kids are broken up into sports… baseball, soccer, basketball, and cheer. It is SO awesome! I stood back and watched these huge groups of kids of all ages play together, practice together, laugh together, and FELLOWSHIP! During assembly time, the kids all sit together according to their chosen sport… and it is so heartwarming to see kids of all ages come together and jump into the program! Our youth are the sports coaches, and let me tell you those kids are REALLY into this program! During assembly, they got up in the front and sang and really got all the little kids fired up, and FIRED UP FOR JESUS!!! It’s such an amazing thing to watch and be a part of… I could almost sit here and cry!

Lil Man surprised me last night as we worked on a little parent/child at home VBS project… there were a couple questions about the Bible lesson they learned during assembly, and he knew EVERY answer! He loses interest after a few minutes, normally, but he obviously didn’t lose interest at VBS. Talk about making a mama feel all warm and fuzzy when  the little one says “Jesus is the Lord” and “I love Jesus as much as I love you Mommy!”  To Lil Man, that is a lot because he tells me all day long that he loves me… obviously something that is on his mind. Well, obviously his love of Jesus is on his mind too, all day long!!

Those young little minds are like sponges… absorbing any and everything around them… their eyes light up at the mention of His name… smiles spread from cheek to cheek as they learn about their Jesus! Oh how I pray to always  have the eagerness to learn His Word as a little child.

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Wow, talk about a brain dump!

Ok, let me just get this out of the way right now. I haven’t visited my admin panel since upgrading to the latest release of WordPress until today… and I absolutely HATE my admin panel now. HAHA! Seriously, the font is too small and certain things are kinda crammed up. I don’t like it. But then again, I’m used to the old look. After all, I’ve only been using it that way for… oh, I don’t know, about six years or so.  So that’s out of the way, on to better things…

I know I said I was staring the Made to Crave Bible study (for the second time) but I think my timing is not God’s timing on this one. I just couldn’t get into it, again. So I’m doing a different study, on the book of Acts, that I got from my pastor. This study is AMAZING! It really is. See what happens when things are done on God’s timing instead of my own?  LOL I know I know, you’d think I’d learn that by now, right?

I have decided that God’s timing is what is going on with this house we’re trying to sell also. I keep thinking it’ll sell any day, annnny daaaaay now. I’m being impatient. And it’s silly, I know. It’s silly to not realize that God is in control of that too. It’ll sell in His time, not mine. He knows my future, so I am trying to learn a lesson in patience. Plus, I think (after much thought and prayer on this) that He is waiting for my business to really take off… He’s waiting for me to have steady “paychecks” for some reason that I’m not aware of. And I’m cool with that!

And speaking of that business… Thirty-One is the one I’m taking about. I’ve just recently starting actually trying to sell/promote BeautiControl. Mostly because the products are absolutely amazing… this coming from a 20+ year faithful Mary Kay user… and I want everyone to know how amazing they are! I signed on to buy for myself and my daughter… and maybe family and friends. But not to sell it. Honestly, though, the products are too good to not share with online friends too.

Thirty-One is still my primary focus however. I can not tell you how much I love these products! Just yesterday I got a party order in (that shipped in about a week and a half by the way!) and it was like Christmas in my house! I ordered a few things for myself.. LOVE THEM.. and of course looked through every customer’s order (making sure everything was right.. customer service!) and I am just so amazed every time I see a product in person that I haven’t seen before! My FB giveaway winner’s Thermal Tote is so cute I have to have one myself! She chose Paparazzi Dot with her name in hot pink and OHHH it is soooo cute! Hey, check out my site and see for yourself… there’s lots of stuff being retired to make way for the amazing new FALL LINE so if you see something you want, contact me ASAP!

Oh, and don’t forget my 100th Fan Giveaway at BeautiControl by Nickie is still going on! Check out my sidebar (or the link in the previous sentence) and “like” my page! The winner is gonna get an awesome Spa pack! WOOT!

(It’s been a long time since I wrote a “brain dump” post…lol.)

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100th Fan Giveaway!

WOOT! I’m having a 100 Fan Giveaway to celebrate the launch of my brand spanking new BeautiControl Facebook fan page!

When my page reaches the 100th fan, I’ll be giving away a Spa Express Kit! This great little mini kit includes: Extreme Repair Hand Creme Mini, Warming Trend Green Tea Mask Mini, Herbal Serenity Foot Creme Mini, Lip Apeel Mini and Nourishing Eye Pads Mini. Every woman needs her own mini kit! These products are amazing! But don’t just take my word for it. Jump on over to my facebook fan page and “like” it so you’ll be entered to WIN! Please check out the official rules while you’re there. You can find it in the notes section.

And while we’re talking Facebook fan pages… I’m having a great Summer Sale on my Thirty-One fan page. The new fall line launches August 1st and I’m making room for new items! This means great savings for you! Head on over to my fan page and check out my Summer Sale items! Be sure to “like” that page while you’re there too!

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