Because I love you so much....I do anything, even public embarrasement! Thank you for all your love, consideration, admiration, trust and laughter. I love you! Bill
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Trusting in Him
I have for months now been learning so much about how much I dont trust God with my whole life... just when I think Im doing pretty good with trusting I get thrown a curve ball and shown how little I truely do trust. I was reading in my devotional this morning and this totally spoke to me so I want to Share it with you.. Be Blessed!
More that that, We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
Isn't it true that most of us worry less about whats happening in our lives that about what might happen? We are unnerved at the prospect of illness, a loss, a financial set back. What is it were so afraid of, exactly? We can begin by considering our particular fears, asking "whats is the worst thing that could happen to me if this actually comes to pass?" By engaging in such consideration we can usually get to the bottom of our worry: "I'll be broke" or "Ill end up alone" or "Ill be in physical pain" once weve identified whats making us afraid, we can ask the question again: "whats the worst thing that will happen if I end up broke or alone or in pain?" and then we get to the heart of our fear: " Ill suffer"
None of us wants to suffer, certainly, but sooner or later we all do, we might as well face it. But we dont have to dread suffering because God has a purpose for our pain. And He sets limits on our individual trials too, allowing only what is absolutely necessary to prepare us to desire and to enjoy the life he has in mind for us. But the fact that our dread of disaster pulses in our hearts indicates how little we really want the life God has for us if that life includes suffering.
Living in our particular society, a determined resistance to pain seems only right and normal. In our culture where happiness and personal rights are the supreme good, anything that makes us feel unhappy is diagnosed as the supreme bad. We adopt the thinking of society and wind up confusing the principle of democracy- life liberty and the pursuit of happiness- with the principles of the Bible. which teach that suffering is not our enemy but a friend in disguise.
Because God loves us, he will visit us with this friend as need be. But we do not have to live in fear of it. because all our suffering is controlled by a God who loves us. "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good" (1 peter 4:19) The God who loves us sets limits around whatever might affect us, and all that he allows is designed to shape us for life in his kingdom- now and for eternity. If we choose to understnad and accept that this is the purpose behind all we suffer, we will stop being afraid of dark days.
This is out of the book
"Trust a Godly woman's adornment" by lydia Brownback
More that that, We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
Isn't it true that most of us worry less about whats happening in our lives that about what might happen? We are unnerved at the prospect of illness, a loss, a financial set back. What is it were so afraid of, exactly? We can begin by considering our particular fears, asking "whats is the worst thing that could happen to me if this actually comes to pass?" By engaging in such consideration we can usually get to the bottom of our worry: "I'll be broke" or "Ill end up alone" or "Ill be in physical pain" once weve identified whats making us afraid, we can ask the question again: "whats the worst thing that will happen if I end up broke or alone or in pain?" and then we get to the heart of our fear: " Ill suffer"
None of us wants to suffer, certainly, but sooner or later we all do, we might as well face it. But we dont have to dread suffering because God has a purpose for our pain. And He sets limits on our individual trials too, allowing only what is absolutely necessary to prepare us to desire and to enjoy the life he has in mind for us. But the fact that our dread of disaster pulses in our hearts indicates how little we really want the life God has for us if that life includes suffering.
Living in our particular society, a determined resistance to pain seems only right and normal. In our culture where happiness and personal rights are the supreme good, anything that makes us feel unhappy is diagnosed as the supreme bad. We adopt the thinking of society and wind up confusing the principle of democracy- life liberty and the pursuit of happiness- with the principles of the Bible. which teach that suffering is not our enemy but a friend in disguise.
Because God loves us, he will visit us with this friend as need be. But we do not have to live in fear of it. because all our suffering is controlled by a God who loves us. "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good" (1 peter 4:19) The God who loves us sets limits around whatever might affect us, and all that he allows is designed to shape us for life in his kingdom- now and for eternity. If we choose to understnad and accept that this is the purpose behind all we suffer, we will stop being afraid of dark days.
This is out of the book
"Trust a Godly woman's adornment" by lydia Brownback
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Hi Im Jessikah and Im a recovering shopaholic
Bill and I sat down this past week and worked on our budget and laying out our bills in a excel spreadsheet for the year. we do this every January so nothing new. only this time as we sat there we realized how close we really are to buying our first home!! YAY a dream we have had since we got married. but in order to fulfill this dream we really need to keep to budget for the next few months.. and I mean stick to it. We always have had a budget but we never keep to it just sorta keep to it... Im always known for going out and just picking up a few things but justifying but it was on SALE!!! uh hello even sale things add up... and we eat out way more then our budget allows for.
As of Sunday all this is Changing and let me tell you we are only on day 4 of this sticking to our budget penny for penny, and it has been seriously one of the hardest things for me.. I never would have considered myself a shopaholic before but I think I was/am. I cant walk into a store for one thing, without looking at everything and picking up a few more things. I have never left target or walmart with a check less then 40$ until Sunday I went in to buy bill some motrin, and after walking through a couple of unnecessary ailes and having to keep reminding myself NO you dont need that... I walked out of target having spent 3.50$ WOHOOOOOOO
Then yesterday I had to run out to get Titus some new shoes for his Audition today, and I went to like 6 stores didnt find shoes anywhere at least not cute ones, but I found plenty of other CUTE things my boys really could have used.... but I was good only picking up one xtra pair of jeans for Bradyn because they were 4.99 regularly 20$ lol I know I didnt do as good as Im trying to make it sound I did but hey its a start...... from here on out Im not spending money unless the budget allows for it... I know its hard now but next year at this time when Im sitting in my own home I will be so glad I did!!! :) so if Iam out with you for whatever reason DONT tempt me lol, No I will not go to the mall with you, and NO I cant grab sushi for lunch this week!!!!
As of Sunday all this is Changing and let me tell you we are only on day 4 of this sticking to our budget penny for penny, and it has been seriously one of the hardest things for me.. I never would have considered myself a shopaholic before but I think I was/am. I cant walk into a store for one thing, without looking at everything and picking up a few more things. I have never left target or walmart with a check less then 40$ until Sunday I went in to buy bill some motrin, and after walking through a couple of unnecessary ailes and having to keep reminding myself NO you dont need that... I walked out of target having spent 3.50$ WOHOOOOOOO
Then yesterday I had to run out to get Titus some new shoes for his Audition today, and I went to like 6 stores didnt find shoes anywhere at least not cute ones, but I found plenty of other CUTE things my boys really could have used.... but I was good only picking up one xtra pair of jeans for Bradyn because they were 4.99 regularly 20$ lol I know I didnt do as good as Im trying to make it sound I did but hey its a start...... from here on out Im not spending money unless the budget allows for it... I know its hard now but next year at this time when Im sitting in my own home I will be so glad I did!!! :) so if Iam out with you for whatever reason DONT tempt me lol, No I will not go to the mall with you, and NO I cant grab sushi for lunch this week!!!!
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