I don't usually post twice in a day...but I felt this was warranted considering my other post today.

Well, I think it is safe to say I am being tested....
As I stated in my previous post I have a Sister who suffers from Major Mental Illness. She has been going down the wrong path for as long as I can remember. I haven't spoken to her in a couple of years...because I had no idea how to get in touch with her or where she was. Shortly after I posted my previous entry I received a phone call..on my mothers cell phone. I didn't recognize the voice on the other end to be my mother, actually I didn't recognize it at all!

Turns out it was my sister! Ok so what are the chances she would call me today...? Apparently pretty good...

So now I have to put my money where my mouth is...so to speak.

She told me she loved me and missed her big sister. She claims she is on her way to recovery and is going to church with my mom on Sunday! I told her I loved her and MISSED her too and that I would Pray for her. I Pray for God's Grace and power to save her from herself. I don't know what my role is or will be in this but I have to believe God has a purpose and a plan...for her, for me and for the healing of my family!

I have kind of been taking a blogging break, only because I have been spending so much time "counseling" all of my friends.

It seems I have this incredible knack to be able to talk to and advise people who otherwise would not listen to such advise. My husband tells me it is my purpose or "calling". I'm not sure I believe it but I do know he is right when he says I can say things to others that maybe would not be well received coming from someone else.

My problem is that I take the situation of the person I am helping very seriously. I find myself shouldering the problem as if it were my own. I then become stressed and worried over what is going on with them and if everything is going to be okay.

What I am starting to realize though, with the help of my family and my dear friend Teresa, is I need to pray for God to give me the wisdom to give the right advice and then let him take it from there. I am just God's vessel to minister and counsel to the people in my life. I feel very privileged to be able to do this because I have helped lead many of my friends to church and ultimately to making the choice to accept or recommit their lives to Jesus! What a wonderful thing to be a part of!

So when you think what you say to someone doesn't matter think again and ask God for the wisdom of words and then let him take it from there!

I have talked several times about "FAITH" and how God wants you to have faith that he will provide for you and take care of your needs. Well, I know that my faith is being tested today.

My husband called me today to inform me that the company he works for has decided with the current economy his position is no longer needed. Now let me clarify, it isn't immediate and he will be getting a severance package but, imagine my feelings...we have a large family and he is the sole financial provider. I immediately went into panic mode. Yes, I cried and got upset....but then I grabbed my bible, read my devotional and then PRAYED! I don't really know what this means for us but I feel like God might be leading my family in a new direction. Faith is an absolute when you walk with God! I know that we have come under attack because we are giving more and more of our selves to do the Lords work and the devil wants to stop us!

They say that God never closes a door without opening a window....I pray that I am wise enough to see it when he does.

I will keep you posted...I know that God is working on a blessing for our family and when he is ready to give it WE will be ready to receive it!

~2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things and all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

As a Christian, FAITH is sometimes hard to come by, we tend to worry when we shouldn't or we try and handle things when we know we need to hand it over to God. I personally struggle with it all the time, as do most Christians. We have a tendency to get caught up in our worries and begin to drown and wallow in self pity.

God wants us to do his work and give everything we have for his glory. For me, and probably most we can give of our time, self, belongings...but why when it comes to tithing we can't let go of the almighty dollar and give it to the ALMIGHTY KING???
That is where FAITH comes in! My personal experience, which I will be honest isn't much...I'm relatively new to the whole live by Faith motto...but let me tell you this..it does work!! We serve an AWESOME GOD who does keep his promises!

My family started tithing back in December of this past year, honestly it was hit or miss. Well, the first service we attended in Jan of this year my husband and I committed to tithing 10% right off the top...just like the bible says. We didn't know how we were going to make ends meet or where the money to pay the bills was going to come from. We just believed and prayed that GOD would provide for us. Again, FAITH is difficult and ours was wavering. However, yesterday we received God's blessings...just like he promised!! Out of nowhere we received not one but two checks that fixed the mess we were in. We were obedient to the Lord and he showed himself to us.

Be Faithful, diligent and obedient and GIVE as the LORD leads you to do, soon you will receive so much that you will have to figure out where to put it all!

Let me count the ways....
In Honor of Valentines day (I know I am kinda early) and My Wedding Anniversary, Thurs. Feb 12th. I thought I would pay homage to the things I love about my life, my family and my GOD.

First things first!
My God... I love him because He loves me and accepts me just as I am. Broken, tattered and torn all flaws and sins exposed.

My Husband...Don't tell him this but I actually do like his sense of humor!! I love him because he is honest and true to his family and friends. He isn't a quitter, even though he has wanted to on occasion. He is a role model to our family and hopefully when the time comes for my girls to marry, they will see the example of a good man and want one from the same mold.

My Girls...Ashley, she is a wonderful young woman and an amazing mom! I am so proud of her! I love her for not giving up and showing everyone she can do it!!

Danielle, I love her smile and sense of humor. She has made some very hard decisions and is trying to adjust, that takes courage and I admire her for that.

Alexis, I love that she is such a fighter, she has come so far and overcome so much! She has proven all the doctors and therapist wrong! She has
a very giving heart and truly cares about other people. She is a straight shooter and gives all she can give!

McKenzie..aka Mack, well she is only 2 but I love her personality! She is funny and smart and just a joy to be around! She makes me laugh with her silliness :)

and of course my Grand daughter Adrienne, she is well...my Grand Daughter....I love her with all of my heart and Love that I can spoil her and don't have any of the repercussions!

My life...I love it because it is MINE! I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Sometimes I don't care for what is going on in it but I know in the end I will be a better person for it. I know that with my family and my God...there is nothing I can't overcome. They are my strength! For that I am blessed!

This past Sunday kicked off the first of a 5 part series on leadership. I am so excited about this series!! Pastor Furtick spoke about embracing your uniqueness and turning it into power to serve God and minister to others.

I have never really considered myself a follower of people but I'm not sure I've really thought of myself as a leader either. After hearing Pastor Furtick's powerful message now I feel differently. I think we all have the potential to be leaders. Whether in our job or in our homes. I encourage my kids all the time to not follow the pack because chances are if they are doing what the others are doing, then they aren't doing what they are suppose to be doing. Kids today are under so much pressure to conform to fit in, but Pastor said that teenagers need to redefine cool. I couldn't agree more.

As a mother/parent I find myself also trying to redefine my role. It is hard to raise kids in a society that teaches them that they are not responsible for their actions and to throw rules and respect aside. Then we are left unable to parent them because the rules say it's against the rules! It is my job to lead my family down the right path. If I don't activate my leadership potential in my home I will do my family a great dis-service. I know that this principle applies to other areas of my life but right now I need to be a LEADER in my HOME and make sure that my family has positive role models within the sanctity of their own home. That way they can take what they have learned and apply it to the real world!

I know that God is grooming Kelley and I to do something incredible....but in the mean time we will practice by ministering to our friends and family. I personally feel that God has something more specific in mind for Kelley...I just sit and patiently wait for God to reveal it to him....he is going to be a powerful Leader...I just know it!

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV


Have you ever thought how great it would be if you could live without ever having to deal with fear?

Of course, there are healthy fears that alert you to danger in time to avoid it and these are good because they protect you. But there are many other fears Satan tries to put on you that should not be legitimate concerns. They are False Evidence Appearing Real, and they are intended to keep you from having the power, love and sound mind God wants you to have.

Fear is a spirit that must be confronted head on, it will not just go away. But God has given you the power to boldly confront your fear and break its hold on your life.

So when fear knocks on your door, send faith to answer!

an excerpt from Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyers


This was a powerful devotion for me. As a Christian I struggle with fear and just handing it over to God. I still have a long way to go but I am learning day by day that until I surrender all of my worries to him and have FAITH without FEAR I will never be truly blessed by all the things that has God promised.

My husband Kelley and I decided that as Brand Spankin' new Christians, we would start a blog to chronicle our journey. I am not sure what we will write about, probably our family...our life, our walk with God and the craziness we call our home! Oh, and lets not forget the dog..seems my daughter always forgets we have one...about the time we ask if he was fed. Kinda of convenient for her, huh?

I am sure it will be a lot of senseless ramblings but anyone that knows my husband knows he always rambles and has to turn everything into a "life lesson". My kids usually zone out about 5 minutes into it. I will try and keep him focused but I won't promise anything!!

We are super excited about the direction God is taking us and our family and we just want to share.
Check back often...because it all starts here!