God Loves You!

 I just wanted to tell my readers that God Loves You! He is performing a perfect and complete work in you. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. He will never leave you or forsake you. When the world tells you that you will never make it, tell the world "I have already in Jesus name." There is nothing you have done that God won't forgive. He will carry your burden if you will allow Him.



Recently I have had many people personally ask me for prayer and I am lifting up prayers for those of you right now. I am praying for the woman who is struggling with her husband with cancer and her son's current situation. I'm praying for the woman who doesn't know where to turn. I'm praying for the woman who is struggling with a decision. I'm praying for the woman who is hurting and in pain. I'm praying for the migraine sufferer. I am praying for the mother who's son is fighting a war. Today, I am praying for you!

May God Bless You and Keep You in His Grace.


 

Final Decision: A Miracle in the Making

 Yesterday, I received a letter in the mail notifying me that I have been selected for a job interview. This job would increase my income by 4 times monthly; get me to a point where we don't have to struggle to pay bills; provide benefits; and allow me to spend adequate time with my husband and church family. I was so excited that I burst into tears. I have been praying for a while now that God would give me a career that would do those things. I just had to praise God. I realized that when God gives me this position He will be putting me in a place of FREEDOM. He is giving me a Blessing so that I may be a Blessing to others. I have learned things during our time of financial struggle that could greatly benefit those that I would be working with. Please be in agreement through prayer for me as I prepare for this interview.

UPDATE: I had my interview. I am waiting on a decision. Keep Praying!

UPDATE: Unfortunately, I was not selected for this position.
 

Worship

Lately, God has been harping on me about worshiping Him. God loves us and He wants to show us how much He loves us. Worship is an important part of communication between us and the Kingdom. One thing I do know, when I'm having a bad day and I take the time to worship I feel better. When you are in worship evil cannot come in.

I often sit at work and play my worship playlist, not only does it keep me awake on long quiet nights, but also allows me to have a pleasant attitude when guests come in the door. I often have guests ask me to pray for them or even talk to me about Christ. I love it. I don't know if they sense the Holy Spirit on me or what but it makes me feel good knowing that Christ is shining through.

I think one of the hardest things is being asked to lead music and wanting worship and the congregation doesn't know how to worship. I am very accustomed to worship being an active experience of loving on my Father Jesus and it confuses me when people can sit on a church pew and not love on God. It makes me very concerned about their salvation and relationship with Christ. At revival the other night the minister said that if a demon were to speak in most church services that most people would run out but when God speaks most just sit there. Unfortunately this is very true because many Christians are not aware of the power they were given when they gave their lives to Christ.

God, I can't get enough of your presence. I want more of you. Release the fullness of your Spirit.
So as for me and my house we will WORSHIP the Lord!

 

Wow, Wow...It has been a while!

So I was reading a friend's blog today and I realized just how long it has been since I have posted. Her post got me thinking about some things and I wanted to elaborate and update you guys about life at The Hill. So may this officially stand as my apology for becoming one of 'those bloggers' that becomes completely absent for a while. May I not wait so long to post next time.

Well a few changes have been made on The Hill. All the cows are gone. It really feels different without them being there, it's just a big open field now. I almost miss those cattle.

I've decided to not sell Mary Kay, it turned out to be more of a hassle than a blessing but if anyone would like to order anything I still have some awesome friends that sell it and would be happy to assist you.

As of late I have been doing a lot of ruminating over ideals and expectations. I thought when I got married at 21 that things would be different than they are right now. I'm not saying that things aren't, how can I say this, wonderful as they are; but my expectations have had to adjust.

By now, I thought we would be expecting a little one as did a lot of people obviously because when I see some people one of the things they have to ask is, "When are y'all going to have a little one?" DH and I both want kids, we honestly want a few but right now we know we can not financially support a child. When you tell people this fact you get comments like, "You will never 'Be Ready' you just have to do the best you can?" Well I refuse to just get by. I want the best for my future kids. I don't believe that God wants us to struggle to have a family. I have enjoyed the last 2 years and 10 months with my husband. Honestly, since we have been married, only about 2 months out of that time have we not had someone else living in our home with us. Sometimes this frustrates me. DH and I have discussed this fact also and we have learned to love sacrificially. I have come to the realization that sharing our home with our family is a blessing. We don't know how much time we will have with these parents and grandparents. The time we've had them living in our home is quality time we wouldn't have shared and should be graciously appreciated. Yes, some days we struggle because we've never really had our space to ourselves, but we also realize that if we have kids in the near future we will be giving up even more of our space too. I also did not expect to feel cramped in a 3BR/2Ba Single Wide, but many days cramped is exactly what I feel. I thought my home would stay neat and organized at all times but it doesn't. I see friends and family members in these big fancy houses and I get a little jealous but then I remind myself that my home is paid off and that theirs will probably keep them in debt for 20+ years. I also did not expect to still be working night shift 6 months after graduating from college, but there I remain. I love my job I get to meet lots of interesting people and I get lots of quiet time and I can do personal things like blog during work time. We've decided that when we do have children we are going to home school so I have been gathering resources during my work hours (Check out my board "Teaching Toolbox" on Pinterest). It's been very productive time for me.

I know that God does everything for a reason and He has a plan and a purpose for everything. As I was reading my friend's blog I was reminded that sometimes I let my wants get in the way of God's plan for me. Then I was reminded of Isiah 40:31, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint." My prayer is that the Lord teach me to wait on Him. His timing is perfect, and He is always working for my good so why don't I let Him do His job. I thought about that random kid in Walmart the week before Christmas and how he/she wants every toy they see. Often this leads to a tantrum when the parent won't buy the toy but this is only because the child forgets that Christmas is a week away. We often act like this towards God, we see something we want and when we don't get it in our timing we throw tantrums with Him. We often forget that all God wants is us to wait on Him. He knows when the right time is and He will give us exactly what we need when we need it. So this week I encourage you to find contentment in Him and be patient. He has a plan, and all things are perfect in His time.

 

Can't Nobody....Do Me Like....Jesus!!!!

Today, I have chosen to take some time to discuss my testimony and give you some insight on why I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for what God has done in my life. I was raised in a God fearing home. I saw my parents struggle financially at times. I was raised in church and I gave my life to the Lord at an early age. I began dealing with migraines and severe pain at about age 10. I would take some medicine and I would drudge through my days. I loved God but I don't think I really trusted Him with my pain; which looking back now was completely ridiculous because he created me, he formed me: every molecule, every cell, every organ. I asked for prayer continuously but it took me until recently to realize why I wasn't receiving my healing. Recently, I have been healed from Migraines. I praise God because it only comes from Him. He has given me the wisdom to research and learn how to heal my body using His methods of eating natural foods that aren't laden with chemicals and stripped of natural nutrients.

As a teenager, I was ministering with a praise and drama team. Boy, could I act the part--my mind was in it because I wanted to show others that I loved Christ but my heart wasn't in it. But one day at a summer youth camp God got all over me. I was baptized with the Holy Spirit and I was on the mountain with Jesus. Nothing was going to steal my joy. However, starting school again that Fall I got in the valley again. Almost every night I would cry myself to sleep. Something just wasn't right. I dealt with severe anxiety and depression. I actually thought about committing suicide a few times. Every time I would have second thoughts. It was as if God himself would whisper in my ear, "I have you here for a purpose. You are not finished yet." I was in a few car accidents that could have taken me out, but God said again "I'm not finished with you." During this time, I desperately was seeking Him. I needed to feel that joy and exhilaration again.

I graduated high school with honors and began college in August 2007. I began dating and I would go to church and bible study with friends. I began to discover that just because I didn't choose to attend a Christian college didn't mean that Christ wasn't there. I got over the depression, well for the most part, and began focusing on Him and school. I began to realize that it was all about Christ and not about me. I began meeting new friends. During college I met my husband and we began going to church together. I have been blessed with the ability to sing. I don't show it off much. I appreciate it but I don't like to brag or give myself any glory. I know, however, God has blessed me with this talent to praise and glorify Him. The church we were attending was alright but we didn't feel we were growing. They would ask me to sing almost every time I walked in the door and if I said "not today" they would all look disappointed. I hate disappointing people. I have however come to learn that I am not here to impress others. I'm here to live for Christ. I have decided to stop trying to be politically correct and I have decided to speak truth even when it may hurt. We eventually moved to a different church that we were both happy in and Christ was blessing us. We got too busy to attend every week with our jobs that God had blessed us with. I was working 40 hours a week, going to school full time and we began struggling to make ends meet. Bills began piling up even with both of us working and gas and grocery prices were still on the rise. I was again battling some depression. I failed some classes and thought school was basically over for me. DH and I talked it though and he calmed me down. I was able to go a new route completely and only take about 8 more classes. I left my job and began a new job and finished college. I graduated in December 2012 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology. I praise God every day for allowing me to come this far. I have now learned about research and thinking and health concepts. I strive to use it to better me and my family as of right now but I hope to soon impact others with my talents. While attending our most recent full time church we learned about confessing truth and promises over our lives. Our Bishop taught that God's promises are for the taking not just for sitting there. They are to bless us so that we can be a blessing to others. I have begun to really start confessing promises and truth over my life. I daily am striving to Speak Life and I can see changes taking place. I choose not to dwell on my past and look towards the future that God has for me. Obviously, He is not through with me yet or I wouldn't wake up each day. I'm grateful for the life God has given me and I hope that I honor him in all I do. For the bible says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17)

Within the last few weeks, a few people who are really close to me have let me down. They may not realize what they've done but I took a minute to be disappointed but then remembered they are only human as well. I chose to rejoice and praise God even though I was mad. I had a talk with God and He reminded me that I will have trials and tribulations in this life and they only make me better and when dealing with others they will let me down but he will never fail me. And then I was reminded of a song. So if you don't mind I will share it with you today.