Today, I want to encourage you all to keep praying!! Whoever or whatever your praying for--keep doing it. If you feel like the answers aren't coming--keep praying, remembering that God is always listening, always doing what needs to be done in all situations & all people. It's important that we keep praying, keep, trusting that Gods plan--His will, will come about & in His timing!!! So here's a couple verses to remember & to keep close: 2Chronicles 15:7- But as for you, be strong & do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 2Peter 3:9- The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient w/ you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. So those are just 2--there are so many & so much encouragement through out Gods word & I pray that you would take these 2 verses & keep them close to your heart & always on your mind & keep on praying!!! God hears you & He knows what needs to be done. Keep trusting!!! Love you all!!!

Psalm 98:1- Sing to The Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things....I'm reading this verse & yes He does great things ALL the time!! But it seems our thankfulness is only this time of year. I mean we probably give thanks, & we're thankful, but is thankfulness really part of our everyday life? For me, if I'm honest, it probably isn't. I whine b/c of many many different things. My heart & my mind are full of worry, especially for my kids. I'm constantly comparing myself to other people, that I forget all that God is doing in me. My heart & my mind are not full of thanks. I need to stop & not just this time of year, & I need to sing to The Lord a new song, I need to thank Him for all He has done & all He is doing, for all His deeds are marvelous. All His plans are good. So that's what I'm going to work on--when all the hustle & bustle of this time of year are over, & we're back into the nitty gritty of everyday life, I want to overflow w/ thankfulness to Him & for Him. Maybe if we all work on a heart full of thanks all the time & not just now, then the true meaning of this time of year, the birth of our Savior, will take on a whole new meaning!!!

I am so excited!!! I got this new book on prayer & I love it!! Prayer is important to me, & my appointment w/ prayer is my life line for the day. Now please don't think that I've got the corner market on this b/c I don't. There are mornings when, maybe I haven't slept well, & so I'm asking God for an extra hour of rest instead of just going to Him in prayer. But still, it's important. So in this book the author talks about 10 different ways in which the enemy does his best to attack us on, & she gives you 10 different strategies, ways to pray to counter those attacks. Well 1 of the things he tries to attack us on is against our confidence. He reminds us of our past mistakes, bad choices, & he's hoping to convince us that we are under Gods judgement rather than under His blood. As I was reading that I thought, "yes, he's done that to me." I've listened to the negative, accusing voice of, "Ha!! You really think God is going to use someone like YOU!? Someone who_____?" And if I'm not careful I start to believe that. I think, "oh yeah, I did do/say that." But it is so important that we--you & I, remember we don't have to listen to that voice. We are victorious, through Jesus, over any negativity or accusing voice, & here is an important verse, Gods word! His voice, that we can carry w/ us to remind us of His great love for us & our victory through Him. Revelation 12:10-...For the accuser of our brothers & sisters, who accuses them before our God day & night, has been hurled down!! (v11 too) They have triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb!!!! Oh my gosh, I read that & read that, & got so excited & cried, underlined it, wrote it down, thanked Him for the victory I--WE have in Him!!! I pray that this gives you not only excitement, but such great hope!! Our confidence might be something satan tries to use against us, but we don't have to listen!! We can get up, put our armor on, & go forth, knowing that we have triumphed over that negative & accusing voice through ALL that Jesus has done for us!!! What a great way to start our week out, w/ great confidence in the One who fills us daily!!! I pray your able to get some time w/ Him today & let His words ring & resonate so loud & clear in your ears today, that He is the only one you hear!! Have a great Monday :-))

I am so excited!!! I got this new book on prayer & I love it!! Prayer is important to me, & my appointment w/ prayer is my life line for the day. Now please don't think that I've got the corner market on this b/c I don't. There are mornings when, maybe I haven't slept well, & so I'm asking God for an extra hour of rest instead of just going to Him in prayer. But still, it's important. So in this book the author talks about 10 different ways in which the enemy does his best to attack us on, & she gives you 10 different strategies, ways to pray to counter those attacks. Well 1 of the things he tries to attack us on is against our confidence. He reminds us of our past mistakes, bad choices, & he's hoping to convince us that we are under Gods judgement rather than under His blood. As I was reading that I thought, "yes, he's done that to me." I've listened to the negative, accusing voice of, "Ha!! You really think God is going to use someone like YOU!? Someone who_____?" And if I'm not careful I start to believe that. I think, "oh yeah, I did do/say that." But it is so important that we--you & I, remember we don't have to listen to that voice. We are victorious, through Jesus, over any negativity or accusing voice, & here is an important verse, Gods word! His voice, that we can carry w/ us to remind us of His great love for us & our victory through Him. Revelation 12:10-...For the accuser of our brothers & sisters, who accuses them before our God day & night, has been hurled down!! (v11 too) They have triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb!!!! Oh my gosh, I read that & read that, & got so excited & cried, underlined it, wrote it down, thanked Him for the victory I--WE have in Him!!! I pray that this gives you not only excitement, but such great hope!! Our confidence might be something satan tries to use against us, but we don't have to listen!! We can get up, put our armor on, & go forth, knowing that we have triumphed over that negative & accusing voice through ALL that Jesus has done for us!!! What a great way to start our week out, w/ great confidence in the One who fills us daily!!! I pray your able to get some time w/ Him today & let His words ring & resonate so loud & clear in your ears today, that He is the only one you hear!! Have a great Monday :-))

Sleep eludes me

I have been having the worst time sleeping lately. Well for close to a month now. At first I thought it was the time change, b/c that's about the time it started, but by now I would think that would be better. It's not!! Every nite/ morning at 3:00 am I wake up. After the 1st week I thought maybe my hormones, that's been another issue for me lately lol. Then, the longer it's gone on, I've thought maybe I need to be praying for someone. So I've been going through my prayer journal & praying. Last nite though, as once again I'm up, I just said "Father, I'm tired! I just want to sleep! I pray every morning, why would You wake me up in the middle of the nite to pray again, for I don't even know who or what for??" He gave me these verses...Eph 6:10,13&14- Finally, be strong in The Lord & in his mighty power...& after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm..."which, yes I know that, I get that! But I'm ssoo tired! And You know what happens when people get physically tired, mental & emotional start to go out the window too!! I'm still not sure I understand!?" Then He just kinda wrapped it all up w/ this verse....Philippians 4:19- And my God will meet all your needs....well what do I possibly say to that? Nothing, I just started praying through my journal. At some point I went to sleep b/c my alarm woke me up. And as I was going through my morning routine I thought, "thank You God! Thank You that You do know what I need. You know how to give it to me. I need to trust. I need to let my faith do the walking & the talking!" So that's what I'm trying to do. I'm sure I'll still whine here & there, but I know when I do God will gently guide me back to where He wants me to be. So I pray this helps you all also. Maybe it's not sleep or lack of your dealing with, maybe your worried about the holidays, or a job situation, or your kids!! They have a way of yanking the wind right out of your sail lol. But remember...keep standing--keep praying--keep trusting--& always know that God will take care of all that's going on!!!

Have you ever just had something on your mind/heart & you pray & you pray & you pray, & then you just say, "God, I don't know what to say anymore? I don't know how to pray this any different. I don't have any other words I can use!" That's kinda where I am right now. It's not that I think God isn't listening, I know He is. I also know that God is refining & doing what He needs to in this particular situation. So when I went to Him last nite I just said, "God, I don't know!? I'm at a loss!" And here is what He gave back to me....Romans 8:26- In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans....so even in our times of just knowing that we need to pray for a person or situation, but not feeling like we have the words, the Holy Spirit speaks for us! We cry out & we're heard. That is so encouraging to me--so full of hope!! I pray that it is for you also. That you'll know even when the words aren't flowing God still hears your prayers!! And I also want to ask you to just lift up my request. I can't give out details right now, but just know that I appreciate you lifting my family up!!

This is a long one everybody!! Sorry, so much to say lol!! I know some of you know the story on my license, but some of you don't, so I thought I'd share w/ you the wonderful story of Gods amazing grace on getting my license. I, in all honesty, thought my license expired 11/28/16, this year!! 2016!!! So I had no reason to check it, no reason to be nervous if they checked my license. Well we were on vacation in Gatlinburg, early October, & it was pointed out to me that it was expired, by almost a year!!! It had expired 11/28/15!!!! Oh my goodness I was shocked, I couldn't believe it!! So, okay I have to get it re-newed when I get home. Well our license branch is only open Mon-Wed-Fri, everytime I would think about it, it was Tues or Thurs. So now it's November & Natalie & I are getting ready to go visit my aunt in Chicago. We are renting a car....well as soon as I get that license taken care of!!! On Thurs Monte said, "you've GOT to go tomorrow & take care of that!! "Oh gosh!!! YES I do!!" So I'm nervous, the ladies at the BMV are not the nicest ladies. Everyone keeps saying, "oh no big deal, you'll just pay a fine, no problem!! Well, if your license is over 6 months expired you have to take the written test!! OH MY GOSH!! I take it--I fail!! This is Friday, we are leaving Sunday!!! What am I going to do??? She says you can take it tomorrow in Lawrenceburg. Okay, I grab a book, call Monte (crying!!) & start studying & praying, & studying & praying &....you get the idea!!! I read that book twice, I took the practice test in the back, I took 2 practice tests on line, I'm still praying, praying, praying!! I get up on Saturday, get dressed, the only thing I did was brush my teeth. I didn't shower, didn't put make up on, didn't even brush my hair. I'm still praying!!! So I'm on my way to Lawrenceburg & still praying, my stomach in nots & my head aching & I finally just said, "Lord, you see this situation! You know what needs to be done & I'm trusting in you to do just that. I've done all I can & I'm just trusting that you will give me the info that I need & this will all be good for me & glory for you!!" So I get there, get the computer in the corner & start taking my 50 question test. Some guy came in to take a test & he was one computer away from me. I get to my last question, answer it, hit next & it says, "Congratulations!! You have Passed!!" I leaned back in my chair, I was sitting on the very edge, & put both hands in the air & said, "YES!!! Thank You Jesus!!!" I didn't yell it-it was half way between whisper & voice. But the guy heard me & of course looked at me. I said, "you have no idea how badly I needed to pass this test!!" He just gave me that, "okay crazy pants!!" kind of look--I didn't care--I was so excited, so glad, so very very full of thanks!! I know that I didn't take that test alone, I know, w/ out a doubt, that each answer was God given!! I got my picture done & didn't even care I had no make up on, I was a little taken back that it seemed I hadn't even brushed my hair, but in all reality, I didn't care!!! I was a legal licensed driver, by Gods amazing grace!!! I got in my car & told Him, "I can't stop thanking You!!" I texted Monte, my mom & friends, called one of my friends, I was so so happy & so so full of thanks!!! God was gracious to me, He gave me wisdom & confidence when they were both at their lowest. He is good to me--to us--all the time. So let's remember, not just this time of year, but always, this verse...Isaiah 30:18- The Lord waits to be gracious to you, & therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you...and let's always give thanks to Him for His great grace & mercy, & His consistency in our lives always!! He takes care of us in ways that can only be explained as Him!!! This just makes my heart smile!!!