Thhird Thursday-5 Things we have given up So we can have More

Posted on by Mary

1. TV-We have a TV but we don’t get TV….We have Movies and Tv series that are appropriate for our family.

-our time isn’t consumed on things that are not God Honoring

– we have more freedom financially becuase there isn’t an extra bill

-our time is not being stolen by useless noise and distraction

2.  everyonce in a while you will find our family  at a restaurant but it’s rare.  In a culture where this is a sometimes daily occurance we wanted to teach our children some things.

– we want tolive healthier lives

-going out to eat is special (a treat) we don’t want our kids to take it for granted.

– it saves us money especially on trips to pack our own food(not that we don’t stop-we just stop less often then most) so we can use that money to see and experience new things

3.  Entertainment- we don’t go to  themovies hardly at all.  It’s alotof money for a one shot deal where as you wait a few months and buy it and you can watch it as much as you want ( and if it wasn’t worth the money you don’t feel bad because you didn’t spend the money at all)  Your friends will give you free reviews 🙂

4.  A lot of toys-we want our kids to be creative (and they are) but as most kids you spend a bunch of money on a toy and they would rather play with the box!!!   (our ids have PLENTY of toys but the would rather play with the pots and pans and plastic dishes, sticks boxes, rocks and so on)

So there are four things. outside of these four things I am not so sure we do without a whole lot.  We have stuff just like everyone else. So in reality i guess we do without the things that would affect is not only in a physical way BUt spiritually as well.  We want our kids to grow up to be responsible.  Not just physically and financially BUT morally as well….I hold to the motto Garbage in Garbage out…So we generally do without the things that bring garbage in…TV, MOVIES, FOOD, MUSIC…we are called to a life of holiness, or set apart unto God!

I know the toys don’t fit into the above statements But I do not want my children to have the “>

Thankful Thursday-A difficult week :(

Posted on by Mary

If you are a friend on FB then it is no secret that this last week has been difficult.

we’re not just talking stuff like the car broke down, thekidshave been misbehaving , and our schedule is packed.  LOL  That is normal stuff I am used to that kindastuff.  I am not a stressed out person bynature.  Sometimes I am Laid back to a fault 🙂  BUT this week has been roughand by rough I mean ROUGH!

It stated last Friday when i eound out a friend from high  school lost her year long battlewith cancer!  She was 30.  left behind was her husband and three small kids.

On SaturdayI found out my Gram was in the hospital and she was very sick.  BT we had no idea just HOW sick.    By Sunday afternoon she was feeling better and everyone was vERYencouraged.   Tuesday afternoon it was a different story.  test results came back and they weren’t good By any menas.  CANCER-and there was nothing to be done.

the doctors didn’t give a time period-they said it could be days, weeks , or even months.   She is 83 years old and lived a full life!  she is a  NEAT lady!  She is my last grandparent left.  And I love her very much!

As i look back over the last year it has been difficult to say the least!  It started last fall October and November as a matter of fact with the loss of an uncle and then my aunt . It has been a year of loss.  an uncle, an aunt, 4 friends, and a friends baby.  All of these things are difficult in and of themselves BUT together it can begin to get to you.

And as I look back at this year and the saddness , you begin to wonder what good happened this year….Especially at this time of year!  How silly of me….RIGHT?   I agree totally!

So as we approah thanksgiving one week from today here are alist of some of the incredible things we haehad the oppertunity to be a part of!  And truly they have been such a blessing to me and toour entire family!

  • A journey hat started out as VERY scary.  Our youngest Little Bean had some weight issues.  he would gain just a little and then loose it all and then some.  Or gain not at all.  we went through test after test. met with a nutritionist, tried a new diet after new diet, took him off formula and  he ate massive amounts of food.  celiacs disease, hyper hyperthyroidism, anemia and finally cystic fibrosis were just some of the names the dr’s were throwing around.  they even eluded  that I wasn’t taking care of him.    I was DEVASTATED!  BUT then a simple answer came.  Milk…RAW cows milk.  Now he is a solid baby and  now at least he is registering on the growth charts in the 50th percentile for both weight and height.  God had worked a miracle!
  • we have an awesome church family and we so enjoy seeing them grow in their walks with God.   There are just SOOO many neat stories BUT Not enough time or space sooo it’s a collection of amazing  God things!
  • We got to travel a bunch this year.  AND it is always a blessing to get to spend the time with friends and family, and to see some pretty special places.   So lets name a few *bible conference *the Creation Museum and the Answers for Pastors Conference *The Women of Faith Conference *Labor day with my family in PA *Alumni weekend at our Alma Mater
  • A special Christian School where our kids are growing and learning by leaps and bounds
  • A house that Is something we never thot we could have!
  • Four kids who are happy.  they are by far not perfect kids BUT they are filled with joy.  they smile and they love with their whole hearts.  they have a special discernment when it comes to hurting people and they love without boundaries!
  • the ability to serve God without being afraid of our government. We can pray openly, meet openly, and spread God’s word openly.
  • A husband who loves God and has a yearning to grow. he loves me and our children and our church family.  He has gifts above and beyond my understanding!
  • An extended family who loves and prays for us.
  • And a relationship with Jesus Christ.  We have his word we can pray, and learn.  We knows he loves us and that we  won’t e left to fend for ourselves.  He loves us!
  • The fact that Jesus died for each one of us.  he paid the full debt of our sin.
  • Our freedoms and the country we we live in.  Safety and the American dream.
  • That Life isn’t fair, Because if it were,we would spend eternity in torment instead of walking the streets of Gold and sitting at the feet of Jesus!!!
  • Creation serves as god gift of personal artwork. Each sunset, sunrise and rainbow God paints for our enjoyment!
  • And Last but not least. Peace that passes all understanding.  So despite All of the bad stuff that happened this year.  Whether it was the death, the earthquake, flooding, crime, car troubles saying goodbye to friends moving away or whatever the HARD thing might be you can rest in the fact that

God will never leave us nor forsake us Hebrews 13:5-6

and that

the Joy of the Lord is our strength Habakkuk 3:17-18

and that

We can do all thingsthrough Christ who strengthens us  Philippians 4:13

and that

No man will ever plack usout of his hand John 10:28

It’s our choice to accept the free gift of salvation and you can have this PEACE as well!

This is definitely NOT an all encompassing list.  the list of blessings can go on and on and on.  BUT then I would not be able to do Thankful Thursdays anymore!!  It would just be repeating the  same things over and over again and you would get bored So with that said Have a Happy thanksgiving and Lord willing I will see you next week 🙂

UGH…..

Posted on by Mary

No fear I’m not going to complain!!!  That is just how I feel…Actually i feel more or less like a tractor trailer hit me.     It’s an interesting  scenario i find my self in.  Coming off this weekend with a spiritual high.  There is nothing like a test of your patience o be a sick  mommy and have 4 kids ready and raring to go at 630 in the morning.  there is this ever present reminder running through the back of my head.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  And then I remember that God will never give us more than we can handle AND THEN  His strength is perfect when our strength is gone, he’ll carry us when we can’t carry on!!!

We can rest in these very promises.  And that is all i need!

THANK YOU LORD for all of the promises you give us in Scripture.  They serve as such an encouragement to each one of us.  Amen!

Women of Faith Friends

Posted on by Mary

Women of Faith Imagine

 

Wellas Promised here is the second installment of  my Women of Faith Blog posts…remember there will be five in all!!!

 

So lets talk about friends.  There were  NUMEROUS people at the conference that I knew.  There were people from the Bible College I  attended and graduated  from.   C.M., Mrs. P. (who was my guest))) And H.F…..(Common guys you know i don’t use names ) So bear with me 🙂

I also have  some friends that are with our local christian Radio Station FLN that spans western and central NY and Parts of PA

That would be Terese who is a Morning announcer and Rachelle who is on the morning show.  Terese and I became friends via another friend on FB.  What a blessing her blog has been and you can check it out here Mommy Manna

 

 

Then there is Kalyn who blogs at The Feminine intellect.

The funny thing is that she and I were sitting in the same row as I was  and after talking we realized we knew each other and that she and her husband are VERY good friends with My brother-in-lawand his wife. And that we have met before!

 

And Thirdly I have another Blog friend who i knew would also be attending this conference BUT we didn’t have a picture together.  Her name Is Jen and she blogs at Reflections in the Window.

Go check out these women’s blogs as I am sure you will enjoy reading each one of  them as I do!!!

And Finally the coolest maybe of all is the sense of friendship you get from the speakers at Women of Faith.  Because of their willingness to share sometimes the deepest and darkest of  things it gives as sense of friendship. The stuff they share  encourages you because you may very well have experienced the very same things OR know someone who has.  their willingness to to share their grief and joy and God’s handiwork in their lives  makes you feel as though you are a most trusted friend!  And that right there is what makes  this conference so different from all the others I have attended!

Thank you WOMEN OF FAITH for including little old me into your circle!

Can you IMAGINE?

Posted on by Mary

Women of Faith Imagine

Can you Imagine 8,000 women?

Can youIMAGINE 8,000 women doing anything together?

Can You IMAGINE 8,000 women singing?

Can you IMAGINE 8,000 women Cheering at thetop of their Lungs?

Can you IMAGINE8,000 women sobbing?

HOW ABOUT THIS….can you IMAGINE 8,000 women laughing hysterically?

I will tell you this, it is a hard thing to IMAGINE BUT i don’t have to IMAGINE it …I LIVED it.  I was one of those 8,000 women.
well This is my post (or the first of five I will write about my weekend)  i can’t fit all that i have to say in just one!

Let’s Start of with My confession…AAhh yes a confession.  I went into this weekend Skeptical. yes skeptical.  it’s no secret that I am pastor’s wife.  And it is no secret a conservative one at that.  Though my conservativeness does not lie in Music, or  attitude. i am a stickler on theology and modesty though not overly so and I tend to though am not limited to standing still…LOL.  But I went with an attitude of work.  i was asked by Book sneeze two go and write two blog posts, one before and one after.  And i intended to give a very thorough critique….Well when you have this attitude you set before god a challenge though I did NOT think of this before i left.   i will try so hard to Never do that again !!!.

I heard some amazing speakers and everyone of them challenged me in some way…

DDr Henry cloud

Shiela Walsh

Natalie Grant

Mary mary

Lucy Swindoll

NicoleJohnson

Angie Smith

Lisa harper

AND

Ken Davis!!! (he would be the reason for the hysterically Lauging 8,000 women though all the other speakers made us laugh too)

One of the things i learned was that i am one of these speakers.  Though I may never be a women of faith speaker, I  have an amazing story to share .  And i need to make sure I do just that.  I need to not fear what will become of  sharing It….and until i become bold in doing so i will not be blessed the way god has intended tobless me.   God has rescued me and saved me  from some amazing things.  SOOO expect to see a lot more of that from me here on my blog and on  my Fb page It’s all about the Walk Ministries.

 

Also As a fair warning there will be another 4 posts all about Women of Faith.

i will share all about Monkeys, friends Met, Speakers, and Lessons Learned and i will send all of them to women of faith!

Check Backwater for all of the not so gory details and prepare to be amazed!