Good Rule to Live by................

That may be what you did YESTERDAY, It's NOT what you have to do TODAY I like this! So worth thinking about!

Christians~ Maya Angelou

Christians - When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'." I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven." When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak And need His strength to carry on. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed And need God to clean my mess. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible But, God believes I am worth it. When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow! Share this with somebody who already has this understanding, as reinforcement. But more importantly, share this with those who do not have a clear understanding of what it means to be a Christian, so that the myth that Christians think they are "perfect" or "better than others" can be dispelled

Musical and Scare

Last night I took my 11 year old daughter Elizabeth and 2 of her friends to Plainfield South High School to see "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL". It was a nice time. The girls really enjoyed it and then we went to Westfield restaurant for cheese sticks and shakes afterwords. Lots of laughter and fun. This morning at 7:35 I was half asleep and rolled over to my right side and as I did that I immediately became very nausea and with my eyes opened my eyes just started racing back and forth....so fast and by vision was not blurry but I could not control my eyes and I could not focus on anything. My eyes just raced. I slowly rolled over to my back and felt a little bit better but still alittle nauseous...and then my phone rang and I rolled to my left side to try and get it...not even sitting up...just rolling slowly over and the same thing happened. My eyes were racing without focusing and I felt so nauseous. I slowly rolled to my back. Les just got in the shower and I yelled out to him but he couldn't hear me with the water running. I laid on my back for 7 minutes...I thought I was fine so to test....I slowly rolled to my right side and it happened again. This has NEVER happened to me before. Is it stress, anxiety, blood pressure my BP meds????? everything is the same with all those so I am not sure. I have been looking online...and it seems like it is just vertigo. I have never had that before either...maybe an inner ear infection. I just don't know. I was very scared though and I don't get scared for myself too easily. I usually always think...I'm ok. Today I was scared. I feel better now. My sinuses seem like there's pressure built so maybe that is it. If you are reading this please say another little prayer for me today. PLEASE!!! Sorry for 2 prayer requests in a row...but It really would mean alot to me. Thank you and bless you~

Ohhhhhhhhh Mannnnnnnnnn!!!!!

Oh Boy...not good. Les called me early this morning from work. The 1996 SUV that he drives to & from his job all the way from where we live to Alsip, Ill. has kicked the bucket with no turning back. Les kept telling me that the SUV was failing. I was really concerned because he does drive far back and forth to work in heavy traffic each day. We both just knew we didn't have enough to repair all it's problems let alone enough to buy a new used SUV Well today he called and my heartbroke cause his voice sounded so defeated. Les hardly ever ever gets defeated or is negative.....the only time I truly broke because his heart was broken was when he walked into my OB'S office and tears were filling his eyes and he was sobbing and said "Lynda, our babys with Jesus". THAT day he was broken and my heart was too.... but to see my Les that way added to my hurt and loss and sadness.....then there is defeated. Today Les is defeated. He tries so hard to provide for his family and he does such a good job....but each and everytime he gets ahead just alittle...BOOM there's a huge financial problem. Most of this started with my ICU bills and our babies NICU bills and in time medical bills can wipe you out. Anyway, things are tight now, which they are for alot of people. Les just still takes it in stride, tries his very best and trusts God....(yet he still worries but doesn't place that on me or our family)....well,even with that...nope that is not enough. Now his SUV TOTALLY goes out at work. Shifts only from 1st to 3rd and will not go in reverse. The worst part is...I heard defeat in my husband's voice. The one who always tries to be strong for me, for us, for our family.....he feels so defeated. He needs his vehicle for work. He drives far, in heavy traffic and he needs to get to work. We both know we cannot finance another vehicle right now. That is meaning a used vehicle. I want him safe. Of course he can take the van if he needs to...but with 6 children he wants me to have the van here for a number of reasons. I know that he needs a vehicle.....I know we need to get only a cheap, very, very cheap used vehicle.... but when you get that...you usually don't know the person you are buying it from and I want my husband in something SAFE & RELIABLE. He travels so far, everyday, in a driving mess. I know when he feels desperate like this (which doesn't happen often but does happen) he makes quick decisions to keep us ok. Well, I don't want him making a quick decision on an unsafe vehicle that he puts his life in everyday. I know we have no money for another car now...but, I don't want him to jeopardize his safety either. Used cars are best bought from people we know. That is what I think....or a dealer, but we can't afford that now. Anyway, if you are reading what's going on in my rambling mind this far...please please pray about this vehicle situation for us. I know this isn't as important as alot of prayer requests..but if you would say a prayer, I'd appreciate it.

GOD is LOVE

This afternoon I was clearing out some old magazines...and came across my "Enjoying Everyday Life" magazine and in it was an excerpt from John Bevere. I liked John in the past but the last study I read from him we (our class) had some problems with. ANYWAY,in saying that, I was reading this article and it just shows how when God's presence fills a place...satan wants in! The enemy does not care about going anywhere where God isn't. He knows he leads the way in that area already...BUT, where GOD IS WORKING... where the Heavenly Holy Spirit shows presence...THAT is where satan wants in....BAD!!!!!! So here is a bit of that article from the book "The Bait Of Satan" by John Bevere.....Just makes you think how much satan wants in.... to cause confusion and disruption where God is. (Article~~) There is a deceptive, deadly trap that imprisons countless Christians, severs relationships and widens breaches between us. It is the snare of offense, and many believers are unable to function in their calling because of the wounds and hurts they have received. They are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their God given potential. Jesus made it very clear that it is impossible to live in this world and not have the opportunity to become offended....see Luke 17:1. If you breathe air and walk this earth, you will have a chance to become offended~~ guaranteed. Therefore, it is important for us to be prepared and armed, for our response to offense determines our future. In the New Testament it oftens describes an entrapment by the enemy. A trap needs one of two things in order to be successful...either it must be hidden, in the hope that an animal will stumble upon it, or it must be baited to lure the animal into the traps deadly jaws. Satan incorporates both of these strategies as he lays out his traps. They're hidden and baited. The enemy uses offense to bring people into captivity. Paul says... And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition...so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken into captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 NKJV.....WOW!!! Those in quarrels or opposition fall into a trap and are held prisoner to do the devils bidding. They are unaware of their captivity and don't realize their hearts are spewing out bitter waters rather than oure. When people are deceived they believe they are right even though they aren't. ~~~~~ (end of article) Reading this article just made me remember that THAT is where satan wants to be... WHERE GOD IS......and so, he gets there by confusion, misleading, opposition, quarrels. It is times like these that I realize we need to LOOK UP...... Speak with God, hear from Him. Our God is not the God of confusion but of peace and love and forgiveness. Where there is anger and strife and confusion...that is all the enemy. It just makes me think we all need to pray for every matter so much more than we do....for EVERYTHING really...because whereever there IS PEACE...satan is waiting to attack...and where there is confusion and conflict satan has his foothold. So, either way.....we need a lot more prayer when dealing with this world, people we care about, people we love and especially when we are walking on a path we do not yet know..... PRAY!!!! God hears, God cares and God loves us all. We need prayer, we need to place everthing in God's hands in all matters in our lives and we need to speak in love..as much as is possible. Just my thoughts for today.

Dinner, Spa and Song

Last night our newly 10 year old daughter Sarah made dinner. It was her first complete dinner she needed to make start to finish.....she got to plan it, make the grocery list, help shop for it, prepare it, set the table and clear. It was great! YUMMY and Sarah did a great job too. She made chicken in a pasta creamy garlic sauce with spinach leaves and Sarah's desert was choc chip cookies with vanilla ice cream in the middle. It was so good and Sarah worked hard to make this great meal for all of us. Next time it is Elizabeth's turn. Today was spa day at MOPS and I had alot of fun. Basically I did nothing "spa" .... but I got to talk and drink yummy coffee and paint my (almost) nails and just laugh. It felt good and refreshing. I enjoyed it so much. Sometimes the most important things are just taking the time to BE and not always to DO. So.......DO~BE~DO~BE~DO...to you!!!!!

A Day to be carried

Man I would LOVE this!!! To be carried today like this picture of Sarah carring Rebecca. Today and yesterday have been tough for me. I feel filled with so much wonder and concern about if I am doing everything I need to do...and that I'm not... so there is guilt and then I feel I need to start pulling in the reins on our children because I cannot believe the difference between the age of 10 years and 11 years. To me, in my heart, it has become a point of crisis because I just cannot let this go. I want my children respectful and I want them to voice their views but RESPECTFULLY. I see a change in my 11 year old and it is amazing how it trickles down to all my children. What they think she can do they think they can do also. Things sure need to be nipped in the bud. I think this is alot my fault because I am so careful with my blood pressure cause it really can make me so sick that I have let too many things slide. Also..... my oldest daughter who is only 11 is experiencing a new level in our church family and it has opened her up to a whole new world that I need to know more about so I can decide if this is the path for her. I want to protect her.....I want her to have that promise of the Garden of Eden for as long as possible. I feel I am failing miserably right now and that is even more reason why I need to be healthy....lose weight, get this BP down so I can be active with my children. Right now one quick move and I feel ready to faint...I know that is all BP related and so that is why I am so desperate to lose weight, get healthy..... and be able to have that energy for day to day endurance. I am reading a wonderful book now.....by the Rabbi that is on the "TLC" show "Salom in the home" which means PEACE in the home. It is called "Parenting with Fire". I love this book. I got it Saturday and I am half way through, and for me.....that is GOOD!!! I like so much of what he says and how he explains things. I also am having my weekly Dr. Dobson & Pastor Bob reinforcement through a Sunday School class at church. Plus so many of my friends are having things going on that just tears my heart apart. Put it all together and we must find some joy in the midst of all this. Anyway tonight I am having coffee with a friend. I know we won't solve any world problems or even my problems today...but I need a word from God.... I need a "I'm here and I care and you are doing fine". There is just so much to do in daily life and only so much time in a day and sometimes I just wonder am I doing the things GOD WANTS ME TO DO??? I mentioned last week that I need a daily "to do list" from God to me...so that I WOULD KNOW if I am doing the things that mattered and if I am fighting the good fight or just depleting all my energy for things that don't matter. Todays a day where I feel it piled on high and when one problem is solved...if I walk into another room, answer the phone or check the bank account there will be 1,000 more!!!! God wanted us to walk in peace......... today peace is so far. so far..so far...so far