Spring Forth

10 Life's been a bit of a struggle lately. It's amazing how finances can put such a strain on a person and on relationships. My husband works so hard for us both. He works at two jobs, neither are his calling or what he wants to be doing. He's an ordained minister and he works in a restaurant and is a trainer in a factory.  Be that as it may, it puts money in the bank. One job is slightly more demanding, physically, while the other requires a little more mental stamina. Both keep him on his feet the whole time.

While at one time I have worked at three jobs, mentally and physically they completely wore me out! Currently I'm just working at my one job. Being a special education teaching assistant in a primary life skills classroom is something I've done for many years, I love it! Yet, recently I feel, all of the years have taken a toll on me mentally and physically. The average turnover rate for such a position is about 5 years. I've lasted 15, not all in the same school, though. Taking a huge pay cut almost two years ago when I changed school districts, makes the job a little harder to enjoy. On top of that, if there is a snow day, two hour delay, or some sort of break, I don't get paid. With student loans, car payments and other unforeseen debt we have acquired, along with daily living expenses my job isn't helping much.  Which puts further mental strain on my husband and I both.

 I've come to the realization that to keep with the current theme of my life, it's time for a new change. A career change. Who knew getting your foot in the door to some place new in a new town would be so difficult? Adding more stress and strain to a relationship. Now, we know neither God nor Satan caused this situation we find ourselves in to happen. It's just part of life in this broken world we live in. That doesn't mean that Satan won't get in there and start whispering lies. Trying to get me to believe that " I'm not good enough or worthy enough to find a better job." Or telling my husband that "I'm lazy and I'll never get a job and he'll have to be doing all the work to provide for us. All the bills and all the pressures will always be on him." It is Satan's goal to destroy families to destroy relationships. If he can get you to believe lies that your spouse is not going to contribute, work together in supporting each other, and care about you, It can really drive a wedged between two people. When this happens, people will either lash out at each other or withdraw for fear of hurting the other. Neither action is good for a relationship. It's important not to let Satan have that foothold. 

My marriage may not be perfect, but in my eyes I think it's pretty darn close. Here's a glimpse into my day today and how my Amazing Man shows his love and how he cares for me: My morning had already started off pretty bad. I had nothing to wear all my clothes (not that I have a lot, compared to most) are either dirty or I've gained too much weight to wear them. I was too tired at three in the morning to take my dog out when she was whining about it. Like a horrible mom to my little Roxy I made her wait until after I took a shower. I forgot about her wanting out at 3 until she was whining at the bathroom door. The poor dog, she didn't make it, and peed right outside the bathroom door. After dragging out the carpet cleaner, wearing my uncomfortable clothes and cleaning up the dog mess, I proceed to the kitchen where there's NO COFFEE, nothing to make breakfast, and nothing to make for lunch. We hadn't gone to the store in a while. This day just isn't looking great at all! 

I go to my room where my husband is still laying. I lay beside him and began to complain about my rough morning. He quietly listens while I lay beside him ranting, and then he gently remind sme it's time to get moving, we have to go to work. We get into the car and make our way towards my work he makes a little detour and I'm sitting there in all my grouchiness, wondering what he's doing. I'm going to be late. My Amazing man pulls into The closest Circle K, goes right in and buys me some coffee, breakfast, and something for lunch. Who's heart isn't going to melt at that?  He presented to me and said, you gotta have your coffee to face today and something to eat.  

We arrive at the school as the busses are lining up. I kiss my man good bye, feeling blessed as he leaves. I take two steps and drop my coffee on the ground. Like a water balloon, the cup bursts open and coffee is splashed across the sidewalk. I stood there just like a child looking back to see my husband driving away and I began stomping my foot and letting out a loud groan of frustration.  A near by bus driver sees me and says, "you didn't want that coffee anyway." I'm pretty sure I gave her the evil eye. Isn't that how life is? It's the accumulation of the little things that trip you up and cause you to do, say, and think things that aren't always of good character. So I ended up texting my husband to complain more, " I DROPPED IT ". Ya  know what? He made a special trip and brought me more. 

Now you know my Amazing Man works two jobs. However, today he got up a little bit earlier because we're down to one car for now, and he wanted to have time to go do laundry before he went to his first job. After finishing laundry and going to his first job at a restaurant he did the grocery shopping! At the end of my day, 

My day continued to go on just as it started, little irritations and minor conflicts kept parading themselves throughout my day. All the while my mind battled between focusing on our current financial situation and trying to give it up to the Lord and Ficus on Him, and to do my job as if I were doing it for Him. At least I have a job. It seemed like the day was a constant spiritual battle. 

Tim picked me up at work and I didn't really want to continue to complain more about my day, but man! So as we make our way to his second job he listened to me vent. Before I left him at his job, he suggested that I don't go straight home, I should stop at the park and hang out by the river and have some time with the Lord. He also suggested I should have the women at my Bible study pray over me tonight. I didn't want to do either, but what would it hurt? 

As I absorb the warm sun reflecting off the water, I close my eyes, exhale and just give it all to the Lord. It was there I noticed all the signs of spring, a new season was finally here. It was there I was led to the following verses:

Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good;
And our land will yield its increase.

Psalm 85:10-12

Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall springforth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19

For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Isaiah 61:11 

God is doing a work, my current situation is just a season in life. He is making a way and soon our situation will change like winter changes to spring. Peace washed over me as He whispered these truths to my heart. He is about to do great things. I stayed a while to enjoy the view and take a couple pictures.

At Bible study I gained the courage to ask for prayer. I've never done that before, especially from a group of people. I haven't really ever had friends who would just pray for or with me, here I had a group of women who lent a hand and prayed powerful prayers over me. I don't know if they felt it or not. But I felt the presence of the Lord in a way I never have before. I can't really even put into words what I felt. It was physical, emotional, and I suppose spiritual feeling all at the same time. I wanted to hold on to that feeling as long as I could. I replayed the the prayers of the women in my head as well as the time at the park on the drive home. 

God is making things new again. They will spring forth and all will be for His glory and righteousness. Like struggling through winter and knowing with out a doubt spring and all its beauty is sure to come, so is my life right now. 

Thank you Lord for planting the seeds of hope in my heart today, help me not to forget to take the time to watch  and see what springs forth.

My hope and future will always rest in the promises of the Lord and the knowledge that situations in life are just like seasons, I will take time to look for the righteous in each one. 

Where is your hope and future today?

The Seen and Unseen History of the Past Present and Future All at Once

The Seen and Unseen History of the Past Present
and Future  All at Once

Long long ago in a land far far away...That’s  where it all begins, everyone’s story, it begins at the beginning.

I love history, and I love words, and learning their meaning and where they originated. I just love learning, but I’m not always so good at retaining  the details. I often find myself  going back and researching  subjects over again to get a better grasp of it or to refresh my memory. Isn't  that kinda the same with society any more? We have so much  information right at our fingertips with the Internet, but how much of it do we retain? We don't  really need to, if we can always just go on line and look it up whenever we want. When is the last time you had to memorize a phone number? Now you just touch a picture in your phone’s contact list  to call them, or better yet, tell your phone to call them. How easy is it for mankind to forget history, whether  it is recent or stretches  far into the past.

 I think it is very important  that we don't  forget our history, we learn from it, and don’t forget where we came from. I'm  sure that is why God had Moses start writing down what he witnessed, experienced, and learned. To keep a record of mankind's  history. So we could learn from it. You've  heard the saying, “those who don't  learn from history are doomed to repeat  it.” Since the time of Moses, and probably  earlier, man has had a desire to record history, leaving a legacy behind for the future generations. If keeping a record of history is so essential to man’s life experience, why is it so easy for us humans to forget it or discount its  importance?

I believe God knew this would be a problem for us humans with our limited minds and our ever decreasing attention span. Which is why the Holy Spirit spoke through and inspired  not only Moses, but prophets and even “regular” people to keep record. It is why Jesus  promised direction from the Holy Spirit  and Paul was able to write so much of God’s inspired word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable  for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” God worked through individuals who yielded to His will,  to bring them to a place where  they could record history without  being wrong.

The very unique  thing  about the Bible is that it isn't  just a book of history  but a book that gives a glimpse  of the past, present, and future  at the same time. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “The thing that has been, is that which shall be; and that which is done, is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” God doesn't  change, and Satan continues to use the same tricks of the trade including: fear, doubt, and accusations  to keep us from looking to God. Man’s reactions to life events are influenced by the devil’s very  predictable and harassing tricks, more about that later.

Many ask about the validity  of the Bible with the seemingly  many contradictions. What people fail to realize is, The WORD is God inspired, not the people who penned it. The word “inspired”, in 2 Timothy  is translated from the Greek word theopneustos meaning divinely breathed in, or God-breathed. Which makes it inerrant  or unable  to  be  wrong. While the original Hebrew and Greek Word of God is given by inspiration, the trouble that is often found in the Word we have today, is due to the fact that we have a translation of a translation. We have copies of the inspired word. However, the main point is always the same: Jesus Christ is coming, He came, died for our sins to redeem mankind so that we may have fellowship with God the creator, and Jesus is coming again.

 In the meantime we are to live in God’s will, in relationship with Him. Jesus said in John 14:26, “But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father  will  send  in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance  all that I said to you.” It’s important we have that relationship  so that the Holy Spirit can help us understand what has already been written in our hearts. Although, as more archaeological  and historical evidence is revealed, less contradictions  seem to be found in God’s Word, The Bible. Besides that, God’s word was written to and for His followers, those who seek to have a relationship  with Him. If you're  not seeking a relationship  with  the one who inspired the Word, so that you are able to learn from history, then your understanding  will be very  limited.

History's mark on the world has never been as important  as it is today. All the events from the beginning  of time have been building up to what is happening  in the world today  and what will take place in the not so distant  future. As time goes on and major events are taking place in the world and in our own personal lives, history is being created. History is His story! The story God has been writing from the very beginning, is the same one that has been written on our hearts. God is the author of His story we are the characters that are continually developing to fulfill the end He has already planned. We are unique characters in the fact that we have a free will to do and live as we choose, the end will always be the same but the course we take to get there and the people God chooses to use to bring the the story about will change depending on our actions. Whether the actions are in our personal life or actions taken by global leaders, they all have an affect on the outcome of His story.

People emerge throughout our personal life whether for a short paragraph, maybe even  a chapter or two, or for the whole epic tale. During that space on the pages of His story we are to fellowship, love and look together  to the one who is still in the process of creating. Seek out how He wants us to fit into the plot. When we turn to the Creator God our personal stories flow more smoothly into history. As our lives impact those around us we need to always consider the way in which we want to be portrayed. If we're incorrectly portraying the one who is still in the process of developing our character, then future chapters may be erased, so that His will to bring about an appropriate end will be fulfilled. In those deleted chapters we may miss out on a key blessing along the way.

Like every good story there is always an adversary, in this case we know and understand him to be Satan, the devil. Life events as I mentioned before whether in the personal or global areas are influenced by the devil’s very  predictable and harassing tricks. Face it, life happens! People have free will and make dumb and not so dumb choices. We can learn from them, turn to God for forgiveness and guidance, and move on; or we can listen to the devil and give into the lies and deception he throws out there. He does it through relationships, government, workplaces, religious choices, anything that influences a person or group of people. Lies and deceit can be used by that not so crafty devil who uses the same old tricks to get us forgetful humans to fall every time. He doesn't need to create situations or cause events to happen, we do that on our own. All he has to do is throw out a few lies here and there and if we're not careful to learn from history we fall. He did it in the Garden of Eden and he is doing it today! 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Today people who are considered  conservatives, progressives, Christians, Jews, atheists, plain ol’ religious, religious zealots or just religious nuts, those in political power and those who aren't, and those who think they aren't a part of any of the above, all are very aware of the wars and rumors of wars, rise of ISIS and it's false doctrine, as well as other terrorist organizations. They all are people who  have bought into many of the devil’s lies a time or two that have gotten us to this place in the story. The plot has truly thickened. We've reached the climax of history and we know the end of this story is close. There shouldn't be any fear in the end however, as the end brings about a new beginning. It is at this point in the story decisions are being made about which characters get to be included in the next volume of the same story, His Story. While we have the book of histories, the Bible, it is very important to learn as much as we can, follow the lead of the creator and let your life flow and continue to be woven into the greatest story ever! Where is your hope and future, is it reflected in History, His Story? All of us have a story, our own history.  It's important to tell, because your history is His Story and there is much to learn from those pages!

Do You Ever Wonder...?

Do you take time to wonder?

Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” John 4:48

The above verse was written about a time when Jesus was urgently implored to come and heal a man's son who was dying. Jesus commented about the faith of people, in order to believe they had to see signs and wonders. They couldn't just believe in who Jesus was, they had to see who Jesus was through His works. Once they saw what Jesus can and has done, their faith increased. God knew we humans, with our limited minds, would need to have constant reminders of His eternal power and love for us. Therefore, He created the beauty we see around us daily. Romans 1:19-21 states that very idea,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Sadly, as time goes on people aren't taking the time to recognize the beauty around them. Many have lost their wonder, and miss out on God's wonders! Do you ever wonder? Do the deep reds, brilliant oranges, mixing with purples and blues in a sunset still take your breath away? What about the leaves in autumn, as they gently float to through the air before landing on the ground, do you watch? Or, do you anticipate raking them up to get them out of your way?  What about the first snow fall as it blankets the earth, hushing every sound and glistening  on the trees? Do you get out and see, or do you shut yourself inside, turning up the heat while attempting to keep the cold world out?

How often do you look at the world around you in awe and wonder? In the Spring are you surprised by the vibrant colors you're sure you haven't noticed before, coming from new buds, and leaves on bushes and trees? Do you notice the nests, or do you not look up that high? In the summer do you soak up some rays, feeling the warmth of the "Son"? Do you watch the grass dance and sway as the invisible breese move across the Earth? Do you feel small in a thunderstorm while excited by the power in the light show? What about the Grace in the rainbow? Even though science seems to explain the mystery of the ever changing seasons, God's beauty and wonder haven't left, many just quit looking for it.

We get so caught up in ourselves, the plans for our future, the things we're trying to obtain, politics of the world, or just getting to the next page in our book of life. Our foolish hearts become darkened to the light and wonders of God. So dark that some miss Him all together and never even read the words on the page. It's been thumbed through so fast, they never got it.

 If we're not careful the story will be over before we know it, and we will have missed all the little hidden details God added to our life to make it more enjoyable, or even salvageable. Details hidden, in hopes we would take the time to slow down, look for them, while finding Him in the middle of it all. Our God is The Creator, and in His creativeness, He wants us, His children, to explore and find wonder, excitement, peace and happiness. When we find happiness in His creation, He is happy because He created it for us!

Our world can be and is at times a scary place full of uncertainty. However, birds go on singing, the seasons still change, there is a new sunset and sunrise daily. God, from the beginning of creation has been trying to get our attention focused on Him. When our attention is on God The Creator, the worries in life don't seem as big.

My Amazing Man (as I call my husband) and I are always taking time to step out and seek the wonders God has for us. We have an awful lot on our plate and just physically getting out and seeking Him, makes all the difference in our week. After church, we get in the car, pray, ask God to show us some cool stuff, and He does. We don't have a lot of money so we just drive to no place in particular. Every picture I use in my blog posts are from an adventure we've had, seeking God's wonders.

Science may have explained away a lot of things man used to wonder about, but just because I know how and why a rainbow exists, there is still wonder and beauty in it. And Grace, don't forget the Grace. God chose to use that rainbow as a symbol of His Grace. He could have chosen to destroy the Earth and save nothing or no one. Just because we know how it works doesn't make it any less beautiful. Just because I know how snow is formed, the wonder and beauty in the intricate detail on one tiny snowflake isn't lost. Just because I know why lighting forms in the clouds, doesn't make it any less wonderful and powerful. Only God is powerful enough to stop the storm, in the skies and in life.

Where is your hope and future? My hope and future lies in the wonder of a God, who created the wonders on earth, and set the desire to seek out wonders in my heart. No matter if the people of this world seek to tear it apparat, The Creator isn't done creating and performing wonders for his children to seek.

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.
Isaiah 66:22

13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:13

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Revelations 21:1

Hope and a Future Just Beginning

Hope and a Future

First ever blog, it’s been on my heart for a while now, I guess I just jump in and go! I appreciate suggestions and comments along the way. I pray if anything I post is helpful, or gets you thinking, it will get shared.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 
-Jeremiah 29:11

How many times have I needed to be reminded of that? How many times have I failed to believe its truth? More than I can count, however lately, less often, if at all. I'm living that truth. Yet it doesn't mean in all my humanness that I don't have moments of regression.

Recently someone commented on my husband and I as being, “a joyful couple”. That thought really stuck with me. Being a part of a joyful couple, heck being a part of a functioning couple would have been unfathomable just a few short years ago. In fact, being a part of a joyful anything for many years of my life seemed unattainable.

For a long time I lived with little hope and doubted God had much of a future for me. Although, if I look back through my life, how could I ever doubt? I went through a lot of struggle from the very beginning, but never had any idea it would bring me to a future and the present I now live in!

I was born two months premature in Southern California, November of 1971 and weighed 3 pounds 4 ounces. I wasn’t expected to live after my heart stopped however, God had other plans. My aunt had prayed a prayer that if I lived, she would do whatever it took for me to grow up into a godly woman. Little did she know, she’d have a battle on her hands. By age 11 I already knew, what it meant to deal with loneliness, abandonment, sexual abuse, rejection, and alcoholism.

While on a camping trip during Easter weekend 1982 I surrendered my heart to the Lord.. I don’t remember the whole conversation that night, but I did realize that I had a need. I had a need not to be alone, feel rejected, or abandoned. I had a need for a loving father who loved me for me, because he created me. Not for what I could do for him. I may not have fully understood the meaning of salvation until I was much older. But I accepted that gift and wanted to believe that I was loved, lovable, and worthy.

Accepting the gift of salvation doesn’t guarantee you a perfect or even easy life. Satan can no longer have your soul, he will do what he can to make your life here on Earth miserable. Which is mostly, just whispering lies. As I entered my teen years, the old lies of being unlovable and unworthy echoed all around me. Trying to be a teen and going through the normal teen issues, as well as acting as the adult in a chaotic household  led to depression, self-destructive behavior, and three stays in a mental institution for months at a time. At a time when the practice of psychiatric treatment and medication were taking a huge turn in the way people were looked at or treated. 

With each stay more medication was given and a new label or psychosis was added to my name: From depressed, anxious, suicidal, child of an alcoholic, to having a dissociative disorder, panic attacks, who was self destructive, sexually abused, the labels for what was wrong with me continued to pile up...in short a crazy person. With each new label my hope and future chipped away. I began to spin out of control by drinking and entering relationships that I knew in my heart weren’t right.

BUT THEN, in the middle of it all during one of the darkest times on the locked unit, I was reminded, “God didn’t give me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) I HAD A SOUND MIND and I was going to be ok!!! I decided to get my life back on track, I found "my way" out. However it was in my own way, not God’s. Although, I claimed the belief in having a sound mind, which meant I no longer had to live in fear and all of those labels fell away, I still felt unworthy of God’s love as I had failed Him in so many ways. I tried to redeem myself in my own way which just ended up in failure. In a moment of weakness and giving into the pressures of life I found myself in a life altering situation.

At age 19, I was pregnant by a person I hardly knew who had moved away from California to Indiana. Again, I was trying to make the situation right in my own way and accepted the offer to move to Indiana and start a new life. I was told by my mother that I could stay in California and we would “fix” the problem. When it was clear to my mother that I was going to move to Indiana, I was told that I could not return. So I left.

I traded one set of problems for another. The night I got to Indiana I lost that baby and felt so alone and punished for my decisions. This began a 22 year relationship with an angry, controlling, alcoholic/drug addict. When I became pregnant again with my son, and shortly after spent some time being homeless in an old Suburban truck, I made a decision I would do whatever was in my power to live for the Lord. I was not going to be a mother like my own and I had to make sure my child had the Lord in his life.

By the time my son was three and I had been attending a church for a couple years, I was convicted again about my living situation. I thought I needed to get married and that would fix everything. Almost a year after getting married, my daughter was born. She had many health issues, that added new struggles in an already difficult marriage. Each new responsibility that entered our marriage caused my husband’s actions to worsen. 

The drinking, drugs, anger, and rage aimed at my kids and I escalated. I lost more and more of myself. The only truth I could hold on to was that I knew that anything ment for evil against me, God could use for good. I learned that I can be content in every situation as Philippians 4:12 says. While I knew and trusted in these things, I didn’t understand why all the praying and “being good” wouldn’t change my situation. Why nobody seemed to want to help.

I felt like my family looked like a car wreck on the side of the road. Many people would pass by not looking, doing their best to avoid us, some would slow down, roll down their windows and offer a Bible verse that would have helped me avoid the situation, or say that they are praying for me. No one was interested in coming along side of us, getting out of the car and truly helping bandage the wounds, we were too messy. There were times I thought people were concerned or tried to be my friend, instead I was made their “project.”

Through it all, I knew, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance”, that's what we're told in 2Peter 3:9. After 22 years of trying to do things on my own, including my own way of living for the Lord, I realized God could not bless something that was never in His will to begin with. I decided I would NO LONGER TELL GOD NO ABOUT ANYTHING. I would give Him every aspect of my life! I was reminded of the verse Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I wanted that hope and future, and was determined to do whatever God called me to do in order to obtain it!

Within a year, I was offered a job that would allowed me to support myself and my daughter, I started attending a new church, my daughter and I left my abusive husband taking just our clothes, a Bible, and a photo album. I took my first full check from that new job and put it all into getting an apartment. Sitting in an empty apartment with hardly any food felt like the safest and most free place to be.

New challenges continue to come at me all the time. Some feel very overwhelming, but with God I know all things are possible and He has given me peace that passes all understanding. I feel equipped to handle anything that comes my way and I will continue to say yes to where ever the Lord is leading, even if at times humanness sneaks in and fear tries to stop me. I am redeemed, I am NOT THAT PERSON I WAS, and nothing or no one can take that away! Every day I will be willing to step out in faith and embrace change, never look back and thank God for the change!

****I wrote the above testimony a little over a year ago (recently edited, re-edited and cleaned it up some)  I have been asked to give this testimony at a few woman’s groups. Although I was very hesitant about it as I find it very awkward to talk about myself. I’ve come to learn however, THAT THIS IS JUST AS MUCH “HIS STORY” AS IT IS MY HISTORY. As I grow in faith and strength His story ontinues to grow, and get even better.

Since I first sat down to write my testimony about three years ago, I’ve met the love of my life, my Amazing Man! Now, I guess you could say we are “a joyful couple”. We’ve both overcome tremendous obstacles in our life that made us who we are today. God put us together at the right time, for a purpose much greater than our own. Together we serve HIM, together we look to HIM, He’s in the center of it all, and together we are BLESSED BY HIM! 

We’ve started our life completely over in a new town with new jobs, all our children are just about grown and out of the house. Between the two of us we have 6 kids, and as of today 9 grandchildren with one in the way. 

Every weekend we’re taking little mini adventures exploring wherever the Lord leads us, and at times, stopping along the way to pray for people we don’t even know. OUR LIFE IS FULL OF HOPE, ADVENTURE, AND A FUTURE!

It is my hope that this blog will be an encouragement to anyone who stops by. Anyone who has doubted their future and lost their hope, whether in relationships with family, spouses, the Lord or even yourself. I'll write about what God is teaching me during my life adventure and about things that are on my heart. I may not know it all, I'm still imperfect and messy, and old lies from the devil try to creep in, but I know God is in control and has my best interest always in mind. Therefore, it is also my hope this blog will show examples of redemption, hope, and a blessed future.

If find yourself where I was…taking matters into your own hands, doing it your way, and hoping something good happens, know God loves you, His heart is for you. Never will He leave you! He, truly has a future and hope for you too if you just surrender to Him and His ways. When you surrender all, be prepared for the greatest adventure of all, full of hope and a future called, LIFE! 

~Deeds

***Edited and revised 25 February 2016