9. Front Door

So, last night LG and I went to Bible study and the night’s topic was abundance and overflow.  Our pastor admonished us to live in expectation that God will do for us what He says He will do if we are faithful.  As we closed, he reminded us that the more faithful we are, the more the Devil attacks because that’s his job. Our job is to trust God and press on.

As I’m about to come across the spillway (about 10/15 minutes from my house) something says “look down at your gauges.”  I do, and my temperature gauge is dangerously close to HOT.  So I slow down and make my way across the spillway.  I stop at a gas station to let it cool down and I call Smoochy.  My dear husband goes into a panic – in the course of 3 minutes he’s told me:  his dad is going to come pick me up, to rent a car so I can get to work tomorrow, that he should’ve checked my levels this weekend and that he’ll be there to get us around midnight.  Um, sir?  Chill.  I tell him I’m going to sit for a few more minutes and try it make it home – I’m about 5 minutes away at this point.

I finally make it to the main street of my subdivision and I’m feeling pretty good that we’re going to make it home when I realize my car has totally lost power. O_o.

Thank God the street is hilly – I figure I can at least coast to the street over from ours.  And I do.  As I turn right at the stop sign I wrestle my car into the driveway of the first home on the left.  I go to the door, tell the elderly dude that I’m leaving my car there and that we’d be back to pick it up over in the night or early in the a.m.  I tell LG to button up her coat – we’re hoofing it the 1/4 mile or so home.  I call P first, but I already know she’s in church.  LG is lamenting the great tragedy that has befallen us.  Honey, this is so not a tragedy.  Calm down.  We set out for the house and about 10 minutes later we reach the best thing I’ve seen all day:

My front door

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything has worked out just fine.  Smoochy was able to get home this morning and take my car to the shop – it should be fixed today.  Were we a little inconvenienced?  Yep.  Did everything work out with a minimum of hassle?  Yep.  God is awesome!

Genesis 50

Are you familiar with Genesis 50?  Specifically Genesis 50:20?

Joseph’s father Jacob has just died and Joseph’s brothers – the ones who sold him into slavery – are afraid that Joseph is going to exact revenge on them for selling him off because of their jealousy.

Joseph tells his brothers not to worry, that he loves them and what they intended for evil, God meant for his good.

I got to thinking about how very, very upset I was when I had troubles on my last job.  I had prayed and hoped for a “good job” for so long and I thought I’d found it.  No sooner than I’d gotten comfortable than trouble started.  No matter what I was doing, it wasn’t enough. It never occurred to me that God had something bigger and better in store for me.  I prayed about it and was led to the job I currently hold.

The office manager came in my office on Friday and told me that she was working very hard to get my position title changed and with that change would come a nice little pay raise.  She didn’t know when it would happen, but they were hoping soon.  Not only am I in line for a raise but whenever this is all worked out they are going to retroactively pay me for the time I’ve been in the new position.

I tell you what.  God is awesome.  Awesome.  The verse “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” has been on my mind lately.  I think far too often I operate in a spirit of fear – afraid to hope for any more than I have now.  That is a sin against God and the greatness He has promised believers.

I often hear people say God is working behind the scenes.  He’s behind the scenes because that’s where we’ve relegated him – to a supporting role in our lives instead of up front and center, directing.

The God I serve is awesome and deserves – demands – to be acknowledged as such.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  He is indeed El-Shaddai.

Hold Up!

Please disregard the post below ’cause ya girl?  Gots a new job!  While I was busy typing away, God was working it out.  I was offered job #2 this morning and I accepted!    I am all kinds of excited!!!!!

Thank y’all so much for reading, commenting, and encouraging.  I appreciate it more than you’ll ever, ever know

Have I mentioned how excited I am???

I am

• happy it is Friday
• concerned about Lovegirl being exposed to and influenced by people and things I don’t necessarily agree with
• continually amazed at what comes out of my kid’s mouth – no filters whatsoever
• glad I bought Big Boi’s new album
• probably going to have to cook and consume an actual meal in the very near future
• so excited that I have less than a month left in school
• looking forward to setting and accomplishing new goals
• going to the black rodeo with Smoochy and Lovegirl on Saturday
• bored with my job
• proud of my re-organized and cleaned out closet
• not so pleased with the grade I got on my case summary in law class
• thankful that God favors me
• amused at my Mother’s recounting of the vacation she’s currently on with her friend-girls
• loving GAP and in disbelief that I slept on them for so long
• already looking forward to fall
• truly frightened at how…dense some of our future doctors are
• wondering why I still haven’t done anything with my mad money
• going back to the gym in August – because…
• getting really soft and mushy
• noticing that everyone’s blogging has slowed considerably
• hoping it is temporary
• disappointed in the current administration
• hopeful for real change
• in need of a new lipgloss/lipstick
• wishing you all a happy and safe weekend – be well!

Sweet Dreams are Made of This

Check your calendars…..

Okay, maybe I’m the only one checking calendars around this joint!…Anyhoo, my 21 day fast?  Almost over.  And while I realize that I am supposed to be praying more and concentrating more on my relationship with God, for the last day or so my thoughts have consistently turned to  food, glorious food! 

I was the same way last year as the end of the fast approached.  I had all these grand ideas on what my first meal after the fast would be.  In reality, the first thing I had was a piece of toast and a cup of tea with honey.  Finest breakfast ever!  I’ll probably repeat that menu this year.  And head straight to IHOP after church for a short stack and a cup of decaf.

While I am really, really, really looking forward to that piece of toast on Sunday morning, I have to say that taking the focus off of myself and what I want in order to concentrate more fully on God has been wonderful.  I feel as though our relationship has been strengthened and I am more in tune with Him…He spoke and I listened.    I spoke and He listened.  Who could ask for better?

Giants Do Die

I have been humming and singing this song all afternoon.  Have you heard it?  Be encouaged. Be blessed.

Donald Lawrence – Giants

Giants do die
The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Giants they die
Just walk around the Jericho Wall

Now we come in Your name
And we stand on Your Word
What is loosed in the heavens
Will be loosed on Earth

Now we come in Your name
And we stand on Your Word
What is loosed in the heavens
Will be loosed on Earth

Let God arise, Giants die!

Giants do die
The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Giants they die
Just walk around the Jericho Wall

Now we come in Your name
And we stand on Your Word
What is loosed in the heavens
Will be loosed on Earth

Now we come in Your name
And we stand on Your Word
What is loosed in the heavens
Will be loosed on Earth

Let God arise, Giants die!

Your praise will bring down stronghold
When you praise, you will see miracles
Just pray when things seem impossible
And the King of Glory
Will show His Glory

Let God arise, Giants die!

Giants, do die
The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Giants they die
Just walk around the Jericho Wall

Now we come in Your name
And we stand on Your Word
What is loosed in the heavens
Will be loosed on Earth

Now we come in Your name
And we stand on Your Word
What is loosed in the heavens
Will be loosed on Earth

Let God arise, Giants die!

When you praise
When you praise
When you praise
They gotta come down

When you praise
When you praise
When you praise
They gotta come down

When you worship
When you worship
When you worship
They gotta come down

When you worship
When you worship
When you worship
They gotta come down

When you shout
Just shout
When you shout
They gotta come down

When you shout
Just shout
When you shout
They gotta come down

They gotta come down
They gotta come down
They gotta come down
They gotta come down

They gotta come down
They gotta come down
They gotta come down
They gotta come down

When you shout
Just shout
When you shout
They gotta come down

When you shout
Just shout
When you shout
They gotta come down

When you shout
Just shout
When you shout
They gotta come down

When you shout
Just shout
When you shout
They gotta come down

They gotta come down
They gotta come down
They gotta come down
They gotta come down

Let God arise, Giants die!