Tag Archives: money

Rest for the weary with a side of blessings

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I read a prayer request sent to our office from one of our Indiana pastors yesterday.  He asked us to pray for his church and as I read his words I could relate to each and every one of them:

“People haven’t been able to identify it, they just feel blah, worn down, basically “weary”.  Weary from life struggles.  Weary from busyness.  Weary from trying to do good following Christ.  Weary from doing bad (aka…sin).  Weary from trying harder. Weary from failing… Just….weary.”

I think some of this could be a spiritual struggle, as the pastor shared with us, but I believe some of it is just life.  Sometimes life makes us tired.  Enduring and persevering are never a walk in the park – it’s work!  God enables us and strengthens us, but He doesn’t necessarily make it easy and that’s for our good even though it doesn’t usually feel like it.

Before you read on, please know the only reason I’m sharing this story is so that God will be glorified for what He’s done!  I’m not seeking pity or handouts – haha – but feel I need to share specifically enough to allow you to feel the impact of how God was there for us recently.  Okay, you can keep reading now…

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TGYWTT

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This morning I realized that I forgot Thankful Thursday again!  So instead of TGIF, today I say TGYWTT:  Thank God Yesterday Was Thankful Thursday.

This time I want to thank God for the things I usually think of as negative or unwanted in my life.  I know He uses everything to help us grow, to strengthen us, to keep us humble, to help us remain desperate for Him.  Thanking God even for the awful things you encounter is a way of saying “I trust You, God, and still believe that you’re good.  I believe what you said about causing all things to work together for good.” (Romans 8:28)  Like the Psalmist said in chapter 118, “Thank God because he’s good, because his love never quits.” (The Msg)  I thank God because He’s good and that never changes….so I can always be thankful.

As a follower of Jesus I say that I’m content whatever comes my way because my life belongs to Him and I trust Him.  Can I take it a step further and actually be thankful for the hard stuff that comes my way?  Sometimes I can.  I try to.  I guess that’s what the song means that says “we bring a sacrifice of praise.”  Being thankful can actually feel like sacrifice.   We may not feel thankful but we choose to be.  So here goes… Continue reading →

PWYP

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You know how yesterday I blogged about loving the unlovable and how much I love my daughter even when she disobeys or does something that hurts me?  Well last night after swatting away (as gently as possible) a disrespectful attitude that was thrown at the back of my head by said daughter, I sulked into my bathroom to get ready for bed and felt God poke me on the shoulder.  I could almost see a smirk on his face as He asked me, “So, do you still love your daughter?”  I practically rolled my eyes at His question as if I had a feeling it was coming.  “Yes, I love her,” I muttered to myself through gritted teeth, “I love that little…”  (insert synonyms for “pain in the neck,” “toot”, “pill”…you get the picture).  Continue reading →

refocus, redirect, remember

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I’m learning lots of lessons lately and have been thinking about them, trying to process them, mulling over them so they will sink in and take root in my heart.  Here are two that God’s been bringing me through this week:

Lesson #1:  Contentment.  True contentment in God.  How many times have I said or sung that God is all I need?  Many, many times.  When it comes down to possibly never buying a house or having some material things that before seemed like “givens” in life, however, does my heart change its tune?  Can I hold onto that claim when my paradigm is shifting?  Just because I’ve always thought something doesn’t necessarily make it true or necessary, I’m learning.  It’s been time for me to put my money where my mouth is in regard to relying on God and being content with just Him and what He provides.  We may not be able to buy a house for a year or so, or several years due to the situation we find ourselves in.  Does that matter?  Really?  Continue reading →

Workin for a livin

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Middle daughter is about to get driver’s license.

Middle daughter wants a car.

After parents laugh hysterically they tell her they are broke.

Middle daughter realizes that to make money you must work.

Middle daughter gets a job!

Congrats Kaikin!  She’ll be bagging your groceries at the local store starting soon and savin’ her way to an automobile.  Looking back, I wish I would have gone to a grocery store or restaurant for my first job.  I worked in a quiet clothing store and was pretty much bored to tears every evening.  Those were the days when you really dressed up for work, too, so I’d be standing around in high heels, whistling and changing the clothes on the mannequins every night just to make the time go by.