Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter Update

I posted last night about the lack of a family gathering on Easter. 

We had decided to have a Easter dinner Monday evening at my sister's house BUT my nephew had a last minute ball practice so that was put off. I had text my cousin on Friday to tell him our plans for Monday. His response was...Thanks for the information. I was like alright , I take that as a I am not coming. 

My Mom decided to go ahead and cook and take a plate to me sister and her family but my sister decided we could come and eat with just us and her hubby and son could join us later. I am collecting the final things for dinner when my cousin text...Is dinner still on? I said... Yeah! He responded...Stephen (his brother) may be coming. I was like great but knew we didn't have enough ham or potatoes. So I grabbed our frozen meatballs out of the freezer and threw some gravy in a pan. I also nuked three potatoes with butter and added them to the scalloped potatoes. We had roasted one head of cauliflower and had 6 ears of corn cut in half already. My sister had cabbage from Friday they didn't finish. I reheated that , added the potatoes to the scalloped ones and heated the meatballs while the boys drove a mile away to visit my Dad.  We had a feast of sliced ham, scalloped ( and nuked) potatoes, deviled eggs, fresh corn on the cob, cabbage, meatballs, roasted cauliflower, bread and brownies. 

See how God turned my depression around. It really made my night that my cousins decided to join us. I miss my family. I was really surprised by Stephen because he lives 40 minutes away and works 40-45 minutes away. By the time he gets off work, it is usually too far for him to travel but today, miraculously, he got off at 1:30.

Tonight was such a blessing and a treat. Thank You, Lord. 

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Spiritual High!!!

Yep, it is one of those Sundays that I am on a spiritual high. 

This is one of the first times in my life that I know where I am at this moment is in God's Will. 

I struggle every Sunday with how small our church is becoming. I know most Sundays that I am there for the few children who faithfully attend. We have been working on a creative movement song for a few months and we presented it today. They children did wonderful. I was so happy. I ran into a church member at Cracker Barrel who said that it sent chills down his spine at their presentation. I wish I could share but I don't know how to transfer from facebook to here. I am not tech savvy. 

Another situation has occurred in a long term position I am working until the end of the school year. One day in the work room, a conversation occurred with a fellow co-worker about my brother. I don't know how the conversation occurred except through God. He did not know my brother but we were in the same industry at the same time and had seen each other and done business together yet did not know each other at all years ago. We talked for a long time. I saw him a few days later and told him he had depressed me because I wanted to tell my brother all about our conversation yet I could not. He said he went home and shared everything with his wife and told me he knew our conversation was of God. The reason being , he had not stepped into church in 12 or more years. He knew God had put me into his path to work on getting back into church. A few more coincidences happened involving another coworker who ended up inviting him to Easter service at her church. I don't know if he went but I pray he went somewhere today and that it is the beginning of him renewing his life for Christ. 

I am also working with a student who could lead a life of real trouble. I have some inside information on him that should have me scared but I am not. Since this child found out I am a Christian, he says no profanity around me, he doesn't talk about getting high or smoking pot around me. I pray for him daily, he does not know that though. I really know I have been placed in his path to make a difference. I cant share my faith but I can take an interest in what he is doing and taking my time to help him improve his work. I know this is where God wants me right now. 

On to another note, it has been a depressing day. I know it is Resurrection Day and I should be so happy. My brother always cooked Easter breakfast at our church. It is hard to go to Easter breakfast and for him not to be the one in the kitchen doing what he did best. It is also hard to walk in the Fellowship hall to these spring flower arrangements.....That we donated after his wedding reception. My brother is all over that church. Most Sundays I am ok but then Easter Sunday hurts. BUT I have hope in Christ, who died and rose again for me and my sins and you and your sins. All you have to do is accept him as your Savior and you can live in Heaven with Christ. I know that is where my brother is, I know he loved Jesus. I know I will see him again but sometimes humanness smacks me in the face. I can have a spiritual high and  a human low at the same time. 

I was also depressed because this is the first major holiday that we did not have any kind of family gathering because my sister had to work. Life is hard sometimes. I did not realize things would change so drastically when my brother died, but they have. I went to Easter breakfast and church then Mom and I went to a movie, dropped off Easter for my nephew , then went to Cracker Barrel. We made the best of it. 

Speaking of Heaven and movies.... I think you know where this is going.....HEAVEN IS FOR REAL....It is . I cried and I smiled. My honest opinion is it was great. My other honest opinion.....They missed the ball on the salvation message that they had such an opportunity to reach so many people. They talked about Jesus, they talked about Heaven but they never truly told you how to get to Heaven.There is only one way....FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST...Accepting him as your Savior...plain and simple. They went all around it....don't be shy....put it out there. My third honest opinion.....it was a movie about Heaven and that it truly was. It was not about Hell or Salvation but about Heaven but I still think they blew a huge opportunity to present the Gospel....Of course, only my opinion.


Ok, I am done.......Don't forget.....GOD IS NOT DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Official God's Not Dead (Like A Lion) Lyric Video

God's Not Dead!!!!!!!!!

In my struggles with grief, I sometimes have questioned my faith. It is natural. I always come back to the fact it is God that has pulled me through.

Today is my 41st birthday, not a day goes by I don't think about my brother and long to see him again. Because of my faith in Jesus Christ and my brother's faith I will see him again one day. We ate out tonight and we had a good time but I must admit that several times in the evening my thoughts go to the one person missing, my brother but this is our NEW NORMAL.

For my birthday, I went and saw the movie, GOD'S NOT DEAD! It is what I needed for a spiritual renewal for me. GO SEE IT!

I love Newsboy's song , "GOD'S NOT DEAD!"

I leave you with the link because... GOD IS NOT DEAD! HE IS SURELY ALIVE! LIVING ON THE INSIDE! ROARING LIKE A LION!

God is our hope when we feel hopeless. He sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for all of us. I mean the nails pierced his hands just so we can choose to accept him and live eternally in Heaven. WOW! What love!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OTz-lpDjw