Really God?

It's been a while since I have blogged. Life has been chaotic. It seems the last few months me, our family and extended family have had our fair share of issues going on. Lately, and I don't say this lightly, I have been a little  overwhelmed by all that has been going on. I am not one who is easily overwhelmed but I feel like I am being pulled apart bit by bit.
I have always believed that God will never give us more than we can handle but I am ashamed to admit that I told God  that I believe my quota is full now! But deep down in my heart I knew that wasn't true. He is a good and faithful God. His intent is not to hurt us but to help us, not to overwhelm us, but to teach us, not to crush us,   but to build us up. And always to love us!
So even though I have those moment's when I think to myself  "really God?" I know that right around the corner He has something amazing in store for me and that makes everything I am going through worth it!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs  3:5

May I Just Say....

I really wish people wouldn't wear their pajama's to the store! It is better than looking at pants hanging halfway down your rear! You know how you see these guys with really baggy pants and they are hanging on to them? I have this secret desire to go up to one of these guys and yell something like " Dude, there is a wasp on your head!" just to see if he would let go :) then I would hand them a belt! Back to the pajamas. When did this become OK? I want to go up to them and say "hey, if your not going to get out of your pajamas at least brush you teeth morning breath!" These are just thoughts I will not act on them.

I will admit a few weeks ago I was not in a very good mood and I got out of my car and went to Quik Trip and these guys were looking at me like "hey babe" of course I couldn't understand them because they were not speaking English but it was obvious what was coming out of their mouth. Like I said I wasn't in a good mood and I looked at all of them and yelled "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!" Their mouths must of dropped to the ground! They didn't see that coming. I did feel bad later...much later because I know that is not how I should act. 

When people choose to wear their pants to their knees and show their butts, wear their pajamas, stare at us in a rude manner and make comments, play music that makes my van shake and my kids ask "what is that bad word mean", take the 10 Commandment's or any religious statue or saying  off of a government building or school because it offended ONE person, get mad because we don't like cigarette smoke around us...they are stepping all over those of us who do not indulge in any of the above. 

Me wearing my pants where they are suppose to be, getting dress before I go out in public, not stare and make rude remarks, may not agree but does not take offense to your beliefs and choose not to smoke in no way oversteps a boundary with anyone.

I was watching the Strawberry Shortcake cartoon with my youngest daughter the other day. This may sound silly but I thought how simple their little lives where in Berry Town! They all respected each other, helped one another, they were all kind and good to everyone. Ahhhh...if only.

They just brim with sweetness!

What a happy place!

After watching this sweet, unrealistic cartoon I dived into my bible study by Beth Moore on the book of James. This is when reality hits. There is no Berry Town anywhere here on earth. For believers our Berry Town is called Heaven. James reminds us that as long as we are alive on this earth we will always have trails and tribulations. God never promised us a rose garden. He did promise that "the man who perseveres under trail will be blessed because he stood the test and will receive the Crown of Life! 

LOVE!!!!!

Now before someone thinks seriously doesn't she realize there are much bigger things going on in the world?  Of course I do. The above things mentioned are a reminder of yet another step society is taking toward not giving a care about anyone but themselves. Sadly it is and will get much worse. If you want to know how things turn out read the  Bible. It's a choice not a direct order.

So because I am a christian does that mean I should not step up and fight for justice? No way! What it does mean is I should look to God for guidance (sadly I didn't do that when I yelled at those men so if any of you are reading this please accept my apology) and fight the good fight His way and not mine. Will this make everyone take note and change their ways? I wish! Seriously, maybe some, but what it will do is give me peace here while I am on this earth. And when I go to heaven my prayer is when I stand in front of the Creator of ALL mankind that He will say "Job well done my good and faithful servant." That is my hearts desire.

GET UP & MOVE!

So, you have a passion let's say baseball and you get this team together. You put everything you have into it. It's your passion. You spend hours, days, years practicing. After all you want to know what your doing and do it well. Now let's say that is where it ends. You never play against another team. All that passion, all that time practicing and you never go out and try. You never show other's what you know.  Maybe because of fear of the unknown, not wanting to take a risk or no time. One excuse after the other. You never get off the bench.
That is how many Christians are. They know God has given them a gift, a passion. They attend church, hear sermons, study the bible, the word for years. But they never do anything with it because of fear, time or commitment. They stay on the pew.
Our pastor used this analogy today. It may not be word for word but you get the point.  I can't help but wonder what would happen if every Christian got off the pew and did what God called them to do. If this was the case I believe you wouldn't see many of us sitting on the pews because we would be in the world doing what God has called us to do. Taking care of the poor, the widow, the orphan. We would take the gospel to the world and put others needs before us. We would quit waiting for the church to meet our needs and go meet the needs of others.
This doesn't mean we all have to travel the world to do these things. You don't have to look far to meet these needs. Look around you. If you can't see one person you can help then your either in denial or don't care.
And not to get far of the track but I was watching Joyce Meyers and she was talking about what you could do to expect a miracle in your life. She said wiggle! Yup...you want a miracle, a change? Then wiggle! Move! Get going! Go for it! God will do His part but you have to do yours.
Life is much to short to sit on the bench or pew. God didn't put you here on earth to keep your buns warm! Go into the world and make a difference. Somewhere, someone is waiting for you.

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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive and inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

My God List

This morning I came across some notes I had taken last year during my quiet time. The notes inspired me to list all the wonderful things God has done for me in the last year. As I began making my God list I was overwhelmed and blessed at His goodness.

I led my first team to Ethiopia which included my oldest daughter

My sister (far right) survived a rare stroke and aneurysm

Our oldest son has met a wonderful girl!

You know what I wish? I wish I had taken the time to write down every single time God has blessed me, answered prayers, spoke to me. The pictures above are just a few of the wonderful blessings God has shown our family.
 I did however fine time to write a Bucket List of things I would like to do in my life time. Seriously? Oh, humans, we are a curious bunch.

From this point on my God list is my priority. My Bucket list may or may not happen, but I know for sure My God list will, in ways I never could have imagined!

'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3

This beauty turned 13!

Our ladybug was baptized!

We added two new grandsons to our family!

Our youngest son is home for good!

And he asked his sweet girlfriend to marry him!

Our oldest grandson turned 10, oldest granddaughter 8 and our youngest granddaughter turned 3!

These are just a few of the blessings! Many would call these big blessings, but to me small or big whatever comes from God is good.

In my day to day living I get wrapped up in my own little drama, but for some reason God led me to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 24, which lead me to look at my old notes, which made me aware of how very good and faithful God is.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods for you in Jesus Christ.

The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 24


 Now with all this being said God hasn't answered all my prayers the way I would have liked, but He did answer them. And His answers are never wrong. My life is not perfect and trust me I have my fair share of problems and issues...but God!

She Turns 13 Today!

I call her my miracle baby. With her permission I posted her story last year on her birthday. It really is a remarkable story. Cameron  was never suppose to walk or talk, let alone jump! We fell in love with her the moment we saw her video and knew without a doubt she was our daughter. Today she turned 13 years old. She is beautiful, smart and funny. She has a servants heart, she loves music and has a beautiful voice. I love to hear her sing. I tell her "you were my special needs baby. I specially needed you!" Thank you God for our Cami Moon. What a sweet blessing she is to her family! We love you precious girl!

Yeah, she's all that!

17 Years Ago Today

17 years ago today my daughter Jordan was born. I was sitting in Broken Arrow, Ok getting more impatient each day as the adoption process seemed to go on and on. And as I sat waiting thinking only about myself and when would my baby girl come home a young woman in S. Korea was making a heart wrenching decision.  She chose to make an adoption plan for her precious little one. And 3months and 28 days later I was holding my baby girl in my arms.

If I could meet Jordan’s birthmother I would tell her thank you. I would hug her and touch her face and let her know that she is never far from our thoughts or hearts. I would look at her and see if Jordan looked like her. I would want to ask her so many questions! Are you quiet and shy? Jordan is. Are you and old soul? Jordan is. Do you have a great sense of humor that comes out of nowhere? Jordan does. Do you love ice cream? Jordan does!

I would tell how smart and how beautiful Jordan is, inside and out. That she loves Jesus with all her heart and she loves going on mission trips and helping those that God has asked us to help. I would tell her that this daughter that she gave life to has been pure joy to our family and is loved very much.

Today Jordan a little girl, who came into my life at the tender age of 3 months and 28 days, turns 17. I am so blessed that God chose me to be her Oma.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! You are loved!

Jordan with her foster mother

The Heart of a Servant

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

A Servant of God doesn't ask "how long will this take?" "How much will this cost?" They just do it!

What do you call six men who take vacation days then cook 200 baby back ribs all day,on into the night and all the next day to raise money for your ministry? You call them friend. And you call yourself grateful. The guys in these pictures are so much more than friends. They are my brothers in Christ. Because of their servants heart, they raised a lot of money for Hug Away. They didn't have to do it. They did it because they wanted to. They desired to make a difference in the lives of children who have no voice in this world. And each one of them, at the end of two very long days still had smiles and and said they can't wait for next year!

Preparing the ribs for the grills!

6 Traegers produced 200 baby back ribs! (They even made biscuits on them!)

6:00 am the next morning after cooking all night.

Ribs, ribs and more ribs!

 These men have wives who sacrifice time with their husbands so they can do this. These women are also my friends and they  volunteer their time to help raise funds for our ministry. Every weekend in January and February we run concessions for our our churches sports ministry to raise money. I couldn't do it by myself. I am blessed with amazing friends who give up their weekend to give of their time, to help "the least of these."
Then there is my amazing family. Trust me, when God calls you to a ministry, your family pretty much has to be for it or against it. I couldn't have asked for a more supportive amazing family. They give up a lot to support this ministry and do so with lots of love.
Thank you Mike, Mikey, Dustin, Jordan, Cameron, Todd, Dayna, Mr. Ed, Mike, Natalie, Jason, Kim, Kevin, Kim, Quincy, Johanna, Chris, Tracy,Steve, Lori, Sandra, Tiertia, Don, Pam, Fred, Marilyn, Shelia and Adrienne. May God bless you for your faithfulness.


"A friend is someone who reaches out for your hand...and touches your heart."