Citation –Withdrawn! Answers to Prayer!

This past Wednesday, hubby and I had to go to a hearing at district court for the citation received in August for driving a vehicle with a suspended registration.  You can read about that dilemma here and here.  The fine for this is close to $300 and since we were never without insurance, we decided to fight the citation.

The officer involved met us there and we were able to show him the information proving we were never without the insurance and he decided to withdraw the citation; we didn’t have to go before the district justice!  What a wonderful answer to prayer!

Today we had another answer to prayer.  Financially the past several months have been a struggle and I have been looking for a job and even though I had placed several applications, nothing came through.  I know that is because the job God had planned for me wasn’t available yet.  This past Tuesday I had an interview and today they called and offered me the job!  An answer to pray!

If I didn’t trust that God has my future planned, I would have become very discouraged by all the applications I had placed and not hearing anything from them.  I thank God for His love and concern for me, especially knowing that I do not deserve any of it.  I’m thankful that I am a sinner saved by grace!

Til next time!

Linda

What is unconditional love?

This week SITS is hosting a Back to Blogging campaign to get everyone back in a blogging and commenting routine. I've not really been in a routine so I'm going to use this as a starting point for a routine.  Today we are to share a post that we wish more people had seen and read.  I chose this one on unconditional love because it is very dear to my heart and I don't think people realize just what it means - unconditional love!  Here it is....


Until my son fell in love, I never thought about how I would feel about his wife.  Would I grow to love her as I got to know her?  Would it take days, weeks, years?  I wasn't prepared for the answer.
You see it took only seconds.  Yes, only seconds!  As soon as I saw the first picture of them together, I knew Jacob was all in.  Of course, I had been talking to him and could hear the happiness in his voice but when I saw that same happiness in his eyes - I knew he had found the love of his life!  nothing could make a Mom happier and then I suddenly realized I loved her.

She and I had talked on the phone a couple of times but I can't say I knew her; I had met her only briefly once - how could I know her?  That is why I was surprised when I found myself loving her.  I suppose God made it that way - with unconditional love for families.

How far does this unconditional love go?  Is there anything that can cause that love to fade?  I truly believe there isn't anything she could say or do that would change how I feel.  God must have placed a component of forgiveness in that unconditional love, one that they don't have to ask for forgiveness nor do you have to say I forgive you.  Isn't that amazing!  I think so!  Isn't God amazing!

This unconditional love God gives us is different from salvation.  God loves all of us, that is why He sent His son to die on the cross (for our sins) and rose the third day but to get His gift of salvation, we must acknowledge we are sinners and accept God's gift of salvation - eternal life.  This too is amazing!  God is so awesome!

Thanks for reading!
Linda <3

Thanks to the SITS girls for this challenge this week and thanks to the SITS Back to Blogging sponsors: Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances.

Pray Without Ceasing

I’m having a rough day today.  Financial things are getting to me, even though I keep praying for God to help me.  It’s not His fault because I keep taking back the problems after giving them to Him.  Why is it that we do that?  I guess it’s part of human nature but it frustrates me also.  That is probably human nature too.

I pray asking for His help and guidance in what I should do.  Then in a little bit, I’m on line looking for work and it’s hard to know what isn’t a scam and that results in more frustration.  How do I get past this frustration?  I guess it means I need to be praying more.  I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “Pray without ceasing.”  that’s what I need to do and I really don’t know why it’s so hard.  Is it a lack of faith?  Anyone know?

God promises to help us and just wants us to ask for His help.  The Isaacs sing a song called “In God’s Hands” that speaks of placing our problems in His hands and He will take care of us.  I believe this and will continue praying and giving my problems to Him and each time I take it back, I will turn around and give it back to Him.

What is the thing that you give to God and then take back?  Let me know in the comments and I will pray for you too.

Til next time!
Linda <3

Stewardship and gifts

I came across an article on stewardship while surfing the web one day and it really struck a chord with me.  I’m unable to remember where it was so please if it seems familiar to you let me know so I can give proper credit.

When I mention stewardship, most people think of tithing but it is actually more than that. It involves money but also material things and talents that God has given us.  One definition is “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially, the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.”  Who has entrusted us with the things we have whether it be money, a home, a car, or a talent?  All these things come from God.  He entrusts us with them and in turn we are to take care of them and use them for His honor and glory.

I have not been a good steward of the things God has given me for many years.  I am not proud of this and only share it because God has laid it upon my heart to do so.  During the past 16 months, I have had to rely on God for many things.  Oh in the past I would pray and trust Him and have even served Him but then that would slip to the wayside.  I have never given up on Him and He has never given up on me.  Like the parable of the prodigal son, he takes me back into the fold and not only that but rejoices that I have returned.  Oh praise His holy name for that!  During these months when I have not been working and therefore not bringing in any money, God had been good.

he has shown me how I wasted what He entrusted me with.  I am ashamed of that and am praying for His guidance in being a good steward of what he is now giving us.  We have less money, but my faith has grown and as they say that is priceless.  I still struggle but remember to pray and place it in His hands, sometimes I take it back and have to pray again giving it back to him over and over again.  He is faithful and waits for me to come to Him.  He wants us to depend on Him; He has promised to supply all our needs.  What a great God we serve!  Please pray with me as I work o this are of my life.  Thanks!

Til next time!
Linda <3

Mother's Day Memories II

As I was thinking about my previous post on Mother’s Day Memories, I realized that I don’t recall doing anything special for my Mom on Mother’s Day as I was growing up.  I remember celebrating after I was through college and working on my own but not before that.

I realize Mother’s Day has become much more commercialized in the last 30 some years but when was it first celebrated?  I decided to do an internet search and here’s what I found…

Apparently it was first celebrated in ancient Greece and in the 17^th century “Mothering Sunday” was celebrated in England.

Julia Ward Howe suggested it in 1872 in the U.S.  She wrote the words for the Battle Hymn of the Republic, but the first known observance was in Michigan in 1877 on the second Sunday in May.
In 1914 it was declared a national holiday by President Woodrow Wilson.  There is a lot more interesting history that you can read here if you would like, but for my purposes this is what I wanted to know.
When I was growing up people ate at home, in fact businesses were closed on Sundays ( Sunday Blue laws), so there was no taking Mom out to eat after church.  This meant Mom cooked her own celebration meal in our house.

I guess what matters most is that I love and respect my Mom.  One of my fondest memories of her is that of her sitting at the back of the living room with her Bible open on her lap.  She is a godly woman of great faith and one day I hope to have as great a faith.  She saw to it that my siblings and I got to Sunday school and church each week.  I am sure it is because of her and her faith that I found Christ as my Lord and Savior.

What better legacy can a person have?  She is always available when I need something and helps me as much today as she did when I was growing up.

I love you Mom!

Linda <3