Smile with a Taunt

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The world has her answer to the journey our family finds ourselves traveling (and so many others also).  Even loving Christians counsel through their "culture Christianity" to solve our struggle.  Both sources aren't going to His Word...both sources stem from a sense of panic, both sources don't look to the source.  It is even harder to turn to a fellow Christian and say, "That isn't what the Lord has for our family."

I stand feeling I need to give answers or explanations....I don't...He is the answer.

When there is peace that they can't understand -
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Phil. 4:7

When what they see isn't what they believe we should be doing
"We live by faith, not by sight."  II Corn. 5:7

When the logic behind our decisions doesn't shadow the "culture"...even "Christian culture"
"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  Is. 55:8

Joy replaces stress.  The joy not found in emotions, the joy that bubbles up from your inner being that has been crushed and you can't fake it.

God has made me smile.  My husband laughs again....money can't buy that.

My heart's prayer cries out through this divinely appointed obstacles course that this will be formed in me.
      "Strength and dignity are her clothing,
        And she smiles at the future"  Prov. 31:25

I am responding with a smile....a deep felt smile.  I am responding with a taunt.  As David taunted the enemy from a reassurance that God would bring the victory, not himself.

Just imagine a boy standing before a giant who had been taunting the army of God.  He confidently shouts out...
 "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" I Sam. 17:26

Saul's reaction....(the world's view, even the "Christian culture" view)
"You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth."  I Sam 17:33

David recounts God's supernatural provision of strength through David's life.  I Sam 17:34-37

David goes before the giant (our giant the enemy of unemployment) with ALL the past works of God and his assurance of God's faithfulness.

I stand with 51 years of testimonies of God's faithfulness to be expressed to the Saul's of this world.  I can stand confidently before the giant.

I Smile, I Taunt

The Bible is full of these stories of God's faithfulness...Elijah before the prophet's of Baal....he taunts them with "where are your gods...have they gone to bathroom" (paraphrased).  How about outrunning a chariot, or asking the Lord to open the eyes of his servant to reveal the army that stood behind them. (I know you can add and add to this list)  Is there truly anything IMPOSSIBLE with God?  NO!

Thanks so very much for your prayers....I can feel them, the peace that has come, I know is from the prayers being lifted on our behalf.  The scriptures of encouragement will be taped to my bathroom mirror.  As we continue to fight the advice of the natural world and trust..............as one e-mail reminded me...there truly isn't ANYTHING impossible with God....we stand.  Even having a smile in the midst of it all is a miracle, because the natural facts look very bad without the hope of Him which lives within us. I pick up my stones and stand before the giant, in the confidence that God will bring him down.

In Case of UGLY....Paint!

My first update of the bathroom..changing from 90's green to this with stencils

As I stated a year ago, our rental residence came with some obstacles...the challenge, make it a home without killing the bank account.  Now the bank account is zero...due to lack employment...it means continuing to do it creatively.

I love taking blogging pictures which allows me to show the beauty while hiding the ugly...even putting on make-up can do that.  So when I showed off my 1/2 bath re-do, I just didn't show you the ugly.  Now for the truth to be seen.

Yes, that is the floor...and yes, my master bathroom looks as bad.  I tried to cover it up with a rug and even held my head up as I walked in so my eyes wouldn't catch sight of it............the ugly floor.

But as another blogger posted one time...there is just time to Yak the thing and getting it out of your way.  For me that means.............GRAB PAINT!!!  All my supplies were left over from other projects............so this re-do would also be free!!

I first sanded the top of the surface of the floor to remove what little seal was left.  I then took mineral spirits to wipe off all grit and again make the surface ready to hold paint.

There were two colors of paint in the garage..neither good by themselves for the floor...so I mixed them to make my base coat.  I rolled the base coat on the floor three times...leaving hours and one over night  to dry.

I grabbed the same stencil I had used on the walls....even the same paint and stenciled a floor medallion.

After the floor was left to cure over night I began three coats of clear statin sealer.







My NEW Floor.....and now you know the whole story...all the ugly was revealed....and restored to a new beauty.

Yes there is a spiritual lesson there....mine came through this scripture "We have renounced the hidden things of shame...." II Corn. 4:2.

Now you are welcome to come use my 1/2 bath and I won't hide from embarrassed....the ugly has been covered.

Up and Down, Twist and Turn...Don't Vomit

I don't do roller coasters; in fact, I get car sick.  I am just not one for that thrill ride...you can have it.  So when life decides to take me on a ride, without my permission.. well, what do I do?  I do a little of everything...want to vomit, feel queasy, excited, thrilled, faith-filled, exhausted, hopeful, discouraged, and when I finally come to the end of myself, I feel His strong arms.  The ride, even though it is still going, becomes a place of surrender.  I have heard that that is the trick of a roller coaster, if you don't tense up and just enjoy the ride, it becomes pleasurable.

So, Monday started the unexpected roller coaster ride.  After the boys were off at school, leaving me to myself and house cleaning, windows were opened to allow the cool breeze to filter through...and the ride came unannounced.

I heard my husband's footsteps in the middle of the afternoon.  "Hey!, what are you doing here?"  His answer back was a shock...he had lost his job.  Monday was the last day.  His 100% commission, supposed-to-be-temporary,-but-lasted-four-and-a-half-years-job had come to an abrupt end.

As I moved through the afternoon with my thoughts invading my being..highs, lows, twists, turns...etc.. my body called me to bed.  But wait...there is always something unexpected in a roller coaster ride. The phone rang............

"Mom, what you doing?...I AM ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" screamed our only daughter through the phone.

We knew it was coming.  The wonderful Christian young man had already discussed this with hubby..but we hadn't expected it just yet.  My husband has always said our only daughter's husband would be a cross between John Wayne and Rambo...this man comes close...he is a Marine Corporal... with a great heart.

This is how he proposed........................................................I am the mom, so I have to share!

They were having an evening picnic on the lawn of the county courthouse.  She had lost her Bible and had been complaining about it...that's my girl...very verbal.  He bought her a new Bible and engraved her future name on the cover. He gave it to her and she hugged the Bible, not reading the full name.  Now I have to say both last names start with a "W", so she just glanced over it.  He had to draw her attention to the full name.  Well, after some words...verbal girl giving him a hard time for the wrong last name... he pulled out the ring!!

Aren't they both beautiful.  The ring was created from the diamonds of his grandmother's wedding band.

This is my goofy girl in our garage, where brother and friends were playing ping pong...teary-eyed...showing off her ring!

Here is our future son-in-law...the mixture between John Wayne and Rambo.

All these sixteen and seventeen year-old boys (her brother's in the baseball clothes) acting goofy with her!  This was so appropriate for them all to hear the events of the evening, since she and future son-in-law both work with the youth at church.

Both of their testimonies of life can fill a book...labeled: God's forgiveness, God's redemption plan, God's restoration, and to His Glory.

Our prayers are with them throughout this engagement period.  We have now had two of our children engaged in one month...oh my!  I don't have pictures from the other engagement..but our prayers are covering them also.

What a roller coaster ride on this day...one that could only have been touched by God!