The New Addition to Our Family, Maximus

Finneaus has a brother. Meet the new addition to our family, Maximus! 

For every kitten we have brought into our home, weeks and months of research took place with breeders statewide as well as states away.

Not this little guy, it was serendipity. 

Having only a couple conversations on getting another kitten so Finneaus wouldn't be lonely we were simply out one evening when we walked into a wonderful store with pets and saw him.

He looks so much like our beloved Sammy Blue who passed away two years ago and the moment we picked him up he laid content in our arms as passive as can be purring.

When David put him in my arms, he reached his little paw up at me. The was the very last thing Sammy Blue did seconds before he passed, putting his paw in my hand.

We all fell in love.

Not so much Finneaus ...

... he was pissed.

It's been an adjustment, but Finn is adjusting well now, too.

Max is a perfect addition to our family.

Brooke put up the first $300 and David covered the rest and said, "Merry Christmas." Some times life presents unexpected blessings and you have to make a quick decision. I'm so glad we did. 

Finn 💙 Max

Focus

What is your biggest focus today?

       What you focus on  e  x  p  a  n  d  s. 

Is that going to be good or bad?

What you pour into your mind will pour out into your heart and life.

Choose wisely.

Your thoughts, mind, day, life and relationships depend on what you choose. 

   

Moping Over 2016

Sometimes I cannot even put my finger on all the things that don't feel right in my life. This year has not been a good one [Although I can say the highlight was my daughters wedding, my wonderful new son-in-law, and their new life together].

I pray.

       I pray.

             And, I pray.

                   Show me the way.

This morning this daily devotion God was talking directly to me.

November 16, 2016
When It’s Time to Stop Moping by Sharon Jaynes

God addressed Samuel: “So, how long are you going to mope over Saul...Fill your flask with anointing oil and get going (1 Samuel 16:1 The Message).

Have you ever been so discouraged that you just wanted to stay in bed and pull the covers up over your head? Maybe that’s where you are right now.

I’ve hidden under the covers a time or two myself. OK, well maybe more than two. So how do we venture out? How do we get over the discouragement and get going again?

There’s a story in the Bible that helps me when I feel mopey. 

A few years after the Israelites made it to the Promised Land, they grew tired of being ruled by God through the prophets. They wanted to have a king like all the other nations.

Samuel was the ruling prophet at the time, and he told the people all the reasons having a king was a bad idea. They persisted in their demands, and eventually God allowed them to choose a king. “They are not rejecting you,” God assured Samuel. “They are rejecting Me.”

The people picked a man named Saul because he was tall, dark, and handsome. I’m not kidding. It’s right there in black and white. Saul reluctantly accepted the kingship, was anointed by the Holy Spirit, and totally depended on God for his new position.

But after a while, Saul decided being a king wasn’t so hard after all. He disobeyed and dishonored God by taking matters into his own hands. (Never a good idea, I might add). As a result, God snatched away Saul’s kingship and removed his anointing.

Samuel was so discouraged over Saul’s failure; he went to bed and pulled the covers up over his head. He was disappointed in Saul, and felt sorry for himself.

Now this is important. If I were sitting right there with you, I’d stand up in a chair and read this out loud. Here we go. One day God said, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel” (1 Samuel 16:1 NIV). I love Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase: “So, how long are you going to mope over Saul?” (MSG)

Mope? Yep. That’s a good word.

God asks you and me the same question: How long will you mope because life hasn’t turned out like you thought it would. How long?

I don’t mean to make little of any of the painful or discouraging situations in your life. 

But here’s what I know today: No matter how painful or discouraging the circumstances of life may be, God never intends for you to get stuck there. You should never put a period where God puts a comma.

There’s always more of your story to be written. When you loosen the string holding the binding of your book tightly shut, and give God a free hand to continue the narrative of your life, things which the eye has not seen and the ear have not heard and have not entered the mind of man will be yours.

God goes on to say to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king” (1 Samuel 16:1, emphasis added).

At some point in our moping about, God comes to us and says, “Enough already. Get up. Get going. Be on your way. I’ve got something for you to do. Your life is not over. The story has more chapters to be written. Let go of your discouragement and take hold of the next adventure I have planned for you.”

Samuel was terrified, but God assured him: I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate” (1 Samuel 16:2–3, emphasis added).

I will show you what to do. And that’s all God expects of me and of you--take the first step of obedience. Get up and get going. He will take care of the rest.

I love the next sentence in the story: “Samuel did what God told him” (1 Samuel 16:4).

Ah, the key to experiencing the adventurous life of a thriving faith . . . the faith you always longed for.

How is that for a heavenly kick in the butt?! 

My faithful Magical Highlighter meets me right where I am and I get chastised, but I heard. 

Touche'!

No Time for Passive Prayer

What a week.

      Time change.

           Brooke's birthday.

               The Presidential Election.

I couldn't stop watching the television Tuesday night as America state-by-state was lighting up red. Evangelicals voting for their beliefs and I just couldn't stay awake any longer due to being up at 4:45 a.m. that morning and needing to be up at 5:00 a.m. again.

For days devotions were shared that regardless of the election, God is still in control. That is what I had to cling to as I was convinced Crooked Hillary could potentially win. Not able to stay awake any longer I went to bed with hope. Hope the final states would push Trump to President of the United States.

Then I prayed.

Not the "God, I know you are still in control regardless" passive prayer, it was time for fervent prayer.

God, we need your help.        We are a country founded on Christian beliefs and look at Christians across this country voting/fighting to keep this country safe.      Give us time.       Allow America to heal.        For my girls and my future grandchildren.       I'm not ready for this to be the beginning of the end.      Give Donald Trump an opportunity to protect our country, protect millions of unborn lives from being murdered in and coming out of the womb.        Give him a chance to revive all the ground we have lost.      She is a murderer.         Hear the prayers of millions of Christians uniting together.       Please give us time. A few more years of hope and healing.         Forgive our country for all its foolishness and entitlements.         Protect us from ignorance and division.        Republicans and Evangelicals are lighting America up red. Hear our prayers.      Please put an end to her.     You are in control.      For the millions of unborn babies, please protect our country. 

I woke up shortly after 3:00 a.m. unable to stay asleep worried about the election and I saw it. Donald Trump was elected President of the United States.

Thank you, God.

Hope.

Pride in America.

We did it!

Coffee, Advil and the excitement of adrenaline, I wanted to stay glued to the television all day to watch the highlights. See the rejoicing. See her defeat. I want to watch every step of the way.

All day prayers of thanks and hope has gone to a holy God. Thank you, Lord. 

Election Day

I woke up at 4:45 a.m. this morning filled with anxiety of today, election day.

What an embarrassment this election has been and so many wonder, where is a qualified candidate? One that can conduct themselves fitting to be President of the United States. I vote on election day because it is the all-American thing to do and quite honestly there is no way I trust my vote to an absentee ballot.

America teetering on major and significant issues and we are only hours away from which path is our country going in.

Yesterday I shared a devotion titled, Why I'm Not Worried About the Election written by Sharon Jaynes, Girlfriends in God. Quite honestly, this is what I am going to need to cling to if the one is voted into office ...

The LORD has made the heavens His throne; from there He rules over everything  -Psalm 103:9 

Friend to Friend

I don’t know about you, but my emotions have been all over the board about this upcoming Presidential election. It is so easy to fall into the ravine of worry, anxiety, and outright fear. So let’s just talk about it a minute.

During one of my “less than trusting” days, God reminded me that He is still in control. Yes, God does give us the risky gift of choice, but He is still sovereign and sitting on His throne.

God reminded me of King Cyrus. Jeremiah prophesied that the Babylonians would take the rebellious Israelites captive for seventy years. Years later, that’s exactly what happened. Jerusalem was destroyed and the Israelites were taken captive for seventy years.

Jeremiah also prophesied that God would raise up a Persian King named Cyrus who would conquer the Babylonians and set the Israelites free. One hundred and fifty years later, that’s exactly what happened. The prophet even called him by name ... Cyrus. Amazing! In 539 B.C. King Cyrus decreed that the Israelites could return to their homeland and rebuild the temple.

Stay with me.

Here’s the prophesy: “This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him . . . ‘I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me’” (Isaiah 45:1, 4; see also 41:2-25; 42:6). About His sovereignty over all nations, God says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please” (Isaiah 44:28).

Stay with me. Here comes the good part!

Now one might think that Cyrus must have been a “mighty man of God,” but he was not. Far from it. He worshipped a whole host of gods. However, God chose him to play a major role in the history and life of His chosen people.

The prophets referred to the heathen King Cyrus as the Lord’s “shepherd,” and His “anointed.” Even though King Cyrus was not a Yahweh, God-fearing king, God still used him to bring about His purposes. “All that I please.”

And God can still do that today. God will do what God will do. He can and will work through godly and ungodly leaders alike. Cyrus is not who you or I would have chosen to be “president.” But he was exactly who God used for His purposes at that time in history.

So that’s why I’m not worried about this presidential election. Paul reminds us, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Romans 13:1 NIV).

Daniel reminds us, “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding (Daniel 2:21).

Jesus reminds us in His words to Pilate before His crucifixion, “You would have no authority over Me unless it were given to you from above (John 19:11).

So that’s why I’m not worried.

We pray.

We vote.

God is on His throne and His purposes will not fail, no matter who sits in the oval office.

7 and 11

Some days I stop and wonder how on earth I ever raised two little girls on my own for 20 years.

During times of flowing income and when I chose not to work everything always worked out and I never lost a thing.

You see, I have just enough. Just enough money for a good life and just enough for my occasional wants. I have the willingness to do the work and I absolutely agree God meets my needs and wants while giving me a grateful heart for every little thing.

When my girls were little, babies actually, I would dream of the day when they would be 7 and 11 years old. Oh, to have them at an easy age to relieve the all-consuming daily routine of being a single working, full-time mom with little ones.

Tomorrow Brooke turns 17. My girls will be 17 and 21.

I think of the ages 7 and 11 that seemed to be freedoms number, but now I look back and they were still babies.

17. That means the countdown begins to 18.

Freedoms homestretch. Light at the end of the single mom tunnel.

I feel like a butterfly wiggling in my cocoon, in a wonderful metamorphosis, emerging my way out to freedom.

I know the places I want to go, the things I want to see and experience and I am just about to do that!

Let the countdown begin ...

Making the Most of Every Day

I miss days spent wondering what outdoor activity I want to partake of making the most of sunshine before work, after work and on a day off.

I miss holding on to the hope of a stress relief knowing when I get off work, my bike, the sunshine and 8 miles was waiting for me. A favorite cardio that increases my heart rate and removes the days tension.

It's getting dark early now, my windows are staying closed with heat on to take the chill out of the air. The holidays and winter is coming and life is slowing down on the intense activity level.

I'm sad to see summer and autumn come to an end, but certainly not this year.

It's November 2nd. In preparation for winter hibernation and holidays, today will be in the 70's and I am taking a vacation day.