Category Archives: Uncategorized

Don’t Fret

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Going through hard times makes it difficult to be positive and worry free. But remember, God will bring you through whatever trials you face. It is too easy to see the negative in everything these days. Sometimes, that is all we see. It is alright to see possible bad outcomes of a situation, just don’t dwell on them. You never know what could be just around the corner!

Not going to lie, I just this morning almost gave myself a lot of stress over nothing. Instead of seeing things in the true order they happened, I just saw the bad spots not noticing the good spot at the top of the list. The top of that list is the only thing that matters right now but I was too focused on the stuff under it to even notice. Sometimes we need to just slow down, take a breath, and see the whole picture, not just part of it. Seeing only the negative spots is what can cause you to lose a tiny bit of faith. We don’t need to lose any of our faith.

(Let’s be real honest, it was my bank account transactions that got me a little nervous this morning.)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” –Psalm 23:1

Watch Your Tone

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I recently posted about biting your tongue when what you want to say will only make the matters worse. Well, you also may want to watch your tone of voice. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to watch my tone and didn’t. All it did was make a not bad situation into a bad situation. Maybe bad is the wrong word, tense could be used here. A tense situation. I got a little frustrated with someone who isn’t easy for anyone to deal with and it very much showed in how I said what I said. Some situations it is ok to say something, as long as you say it nicely. Tone of voice is what tells your mood or your feelings about the situation. If you’re making a joke, your tone says that. In my situation, my tone was quite tart, even though I didn’t mean it to be. Of course, the person I said it to got a little angry and did the right thing by just walking away and calming down. Afterwards he did come back and go to a coworker of mine instead of coming to me, but that’s alright. No harm done. We live and we learn. My mouth has gotten me into trouble all my life. I talk too much and sometimes I use the wrong tone. That is why I need Jesus. Because I am not perfect and make mistakes.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” –Colossians 4:6

Thou Shall Bite Thy Tongue

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This week included a couple of times that almost caused me to bite my tongue….off. Just an FYI even when you get the chance to say “see, told ya so!” to one of those people that it would be so satisfying to say it, you shouldn’t. All that is going to do is create frustration and anger. Probably in both of you. There is no good that can come out of you saying that. None, what so ever.

Another time it is good to bite your tongue, when you are dealing with someone ELSE’S family. Especially a friend’s spouse’s family. I do not care how much they are in the way of you carrying heavy boxes, it isn’t your place. The only thing saying something will accomplish is adding more stress to your friend. So, don’t be selfish. Don’t be causing problems you won’t have to deal with.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” –Ephesians 4:29

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
–Proverbs 21:23

Lug Nuts

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It has been an interesting week. Got a new tire Monday for the flat I had on Saturday. Well, had to go back to the shop cause that brand new tire has a slow-ish leak. The Lord is testing my patience. So, they pull my car around and I can see through the big glass window that there seems to be some trouble with my car. One of those pesky lug nuts won’t come off, which means it needs a new stud. Mind you, my friend’s husband, the mechanic, already replaced one cross threaded stud this past Sunday when we were looking for the hole in the flat tire. Now another stud that has to be replaced, I prayed it wouldn’t cost much cause momma is broker than broke. Well, they had to wait for the new stud to get to the shop from bumper and bumper; twice. They originally delivered the wrong stud. What should have taken maybe an hour, took 2. However, they did find the leak. It wasn’t the tire but the valve stem, which is connected to that sensor that tells you when your tire is getting low on air. So, new stud for the lug nut and my choice of replacing a $60 sensor plus labor or a free valve stem without a sensor. I opted for the free option. Finally, after 2 hours they tell me it’s ready and that I am good to go. PRAISE JESUS!! They didn’t charge me for a thing! Not one thing! My “low tire” light will be on until I get a sensor but, if I dealt with it being on for the first year I can deal with it a little bit longer!!

October 12, I got 4 new tires, an alignment, an oil change, and a replacement air sensor. The next week I had to go in for a new window motor. On that day the guy working the front desk made the joke, “Doing a lot of work on that thing. It’s going to be a whole new car before too long.” Well, apparently it is going to be a whole new car right down to the studs!

I thank God for blessing me with patience and a good attitude.

“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”
–Proverbs 15:18

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” –Proverbs 14:29

8 “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”
–Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33

The Subway

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Yesterday afternoon, while at work, I found this gift card discreetly tucked into the side pocket of my backpack. I have no clue who it is from, but that doesn’t matter. This is what God does. Yes, some person or persons had me in their thoughts, which I am so grateful for, but God put me there. God put this wonderful person and me together. He knew that we would need each other and love on each other because that is what He wants us to do. Especially in the past few months I have come into work to find little happies like this and I couldn’t be more grateful. Yes, I thank those people who have taken me in as one of their own, but I thank God more. God created these people and me. God brought us together like family. God blessed them so that they could “pay it forward”. When we show love for each other, we aren’t showing our love, we are showing God’s love. Never be afraid of sharing God’s love with each other.

“We love because he first loved us.” –1 John 4:19

The True Fam!

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My last post ended on how your church family is one important thing. This post, is the continuation.

In my D-Group this morning we were talking about how your fellow church goers aren’t just acquaintances, or strangers you share a pew with. They are truly your family. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and we should live that way. I cannot count how many people have commented on how they remember when I was born. I was the youngest and some of them had children the same age as my siblings. Some of them grew up with my mom. Some of them just know me through the church. Most of my church family has watched me grow into the person I am today. I might have strayed from the original path, but they still love and care for me. Now, I get to watch my son grow up with these same people. People who see him every week are saying, “He’s getting so big! I remember you when you were that little.” and I can’t explain the feelings I get every time I hear those words and see how much this family of mine loves and cares for my son. However, it wasn’t until this morning that I realized something I was completely oblivious too. A wise woman said to me, “they love and care for him because they loved and cared for his momma first.” This lovely lady is one of those that can remember when I was born and it was then that I uncovered yet a new level of family within my church family.

For all of you reading this, if you haven’t already, find you a church family. God doesn’t want us to be alone. He wants us working together and lifting each other up. Don’t be afraid to get more involved in your church. It can be intimidating, and you probably don’t think you have the time, bu trust me, you do. Once you start being truly active in your new family, you will see just how much God wants us to come together. The people that love and care for you will make it seem so easy just to be there. They want you there, they want to help you in anyway they can. They want to love on you and your family because that is what God is. He is love. Whatever you do, don’t let yourself get too busy or too untrusting for God’s love.

7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
–1 John 4:7-10

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” –John 13:34-35

The Changing of a Tire

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Yesterday was Saturday, and I took a day trip to go see my dad. Of course the little one was super excited to see his Paw. When we got back to town I left the little with my mother so I could go to a girl’s night. A girl’s night is always a good thing. It is nice to just get out and not have a shadow…that talks…and potties in his pants. Anywho, me and 2 other girls go to leave at around 9. As I started to pull out of the parking lot of these apartments, something was wrong. So, I back up, get out, and oh what a flat tire!! Luckily, one of the girls was behind me and stopped to check on me. This friend just oh so happens to be married to an actual mechanic. Coincidence? I think not. About an hour later I have my spare on, my bad tire in the cargo area, and I am headed home. Luckily I have another friend that offered to help me find the hole in the tire so we can patch up the next day. Also, the mechanic guy found a problem with one of my studs for my lugnut. He offered to replace it.

Sunday is here. The morning is uneventful, which in my world is actually a good thing. We are all set to find a hole and replace a stud later this afternoon. All this to me sounds like a big hassle. All I can think is that I have become the class nuisance. When I say think, I mean I think. Not once did any of the people helping complain or act like it was a bother. It was kind of weird. I am definitely one of those people that hates asking for favors ’cause I feel like a burden.

Never do I ever want to take people for granted, but there is some kind of comfort just knowing, there are genuinely good people in this world. Before really finding this home of mine, My SUV would probably still be sitting in that parking lot. Now, I’m not sure if these guys know just how much of a lifesaver they were. I mean, where the hole is we couldn’t patch it, but since they are only a month old, being able to take it back to the shop that sold it to me is going to be easier since I can show them where it is. A tiny crack in a brand new all terrain tire is not acceptable.

On top of all this nuisance-ness, there is my son. My son who loves watching things. Loves cars. My son who also has this fascination with one of the guys’ “racecar”. Again, neither of them acted like it was a bother. This little 3 year old asking a whole bunch of questions and just talking a mile a minute about nothing in general. They actually showed an interest. Again, the comfort in knowing that he isn’t always a nuisance is overwhelming. There is a reason why it is referred to as a church FAMILY!! Enter Sister Sledge. God knew I would need help throughout the days to come. That is why he put people in my life to answer that call. The people in your life aren’t coincidental. Nothing is. God has a hand in everything that happens.

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. ” –1 Timothy 5:1-2

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
–Isaiah 41:10

Time Flies

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Me and the little went and got hair cuts last night and let me tell you something, you don’t realized how much of a difference a haircut makes in a person. Me, not so much, just an inch off the bottom. Him on the other hand, went from 3 years old to 10 in about 5 minutes. Where did my little boy go?! My computer screen at work has a picture of him from last year and people can already tell a difference. His features are becoming more defined, he is actually making well put together sentences and everything!

It’s so funny to think how impatient we are with everything else. We wan’t the rewards instantly. We focus so much on making things happen now instead of later that we don’t realize what else is going by. If you hate the weather, you pray for the next season to come. Bored of the current sport, you’re ready for the next season to come. You like the holidays better than summer, you pray for the year to go by fast. Waiting on a job, or are in school, you can’t wait for the days to pass by. You are in the middle of potty training and you think “I can’t wait for them to get this down and I don’t have to buy diapers or wipe butts anymore.” But, with all this wishing that time would go by faster, you’re missing the littles in some of their best years. Suddenly, they aren’t afraid of sitting in the hairdresser’s chair alone. They are actually talking to people and having their own opinions. They are growing before your eyes and you can’t slow it down.

Starting today, we need to wish for things to slow down. Now days we get in such a hurry for everything to happen that we are missing the things that we aren’t ready to end. Our littles are only little for so long, then they are teenagers that are embarrassed by you, then adults and bringing their own littles into the world. Don’t worry about what is next, let God handle that. You just worry about your right here, right now.

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
–Proverbs 27:1

Frustration to Anger

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Single motherhood is full of frustrations. Whether potty training, dealing with attitudes as a teen (or toddler!!) or just being a little overworked and exhausted, frustration is just right around the corner. It’s normal. One thing to remember is to not let your frustration boil over into anger. Anger is ugly and it makes you ugly. So, remember that sometimes you need to take a step back and breath. While you’re breathing, say a little prayer. Once you let the frustration boil over you start to lash out. It tends to be a little too easy to lash out at your kids too. They are there, in your face, all the time. I can’t change clothes with privacy anymore. My little one likes to stand just outside the door, which if I close the door he knocks on it and asks if I’m done, until I’m done. With our little mini-selves in our face all the time, they tend to get the brunt of our crankiness.

Remember, anger isn’t the answer. It can come up on you like bad seafood, but you just have to chew it back! Don’t let it spill over into other people’s, especially your little’s, lives. Don’t cause them frustration and anger just because things aren’t going the exact way you wanted. Just take a minute and ask for peace sister.

19 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” — James 1:19-20

Keep Fighting

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It has been a terrible week. Really, a terrible 2 weeks. As of right now I am in a financial hole, but there is a light at the other end of this tunnel. I can see my way out. This, this is just a test. Sometimes God does that. Sometimes Satan does that. The truth is you never know where the test is coming from. Staying faithful is key. No matte what you are going through, keep looking to God for your way out. At first it may seem like you are alone, but He is with you. He always will be. You have to keep your eyes, and hearts, open for Him. He will provide the way out of the struggles you have going on. Just reach out and grab His hand and He will pull you out of the storm.

Sometimes the storm seems never ending, but the rainbow will shine. Keep fighting and remember, you are not in the ring alone. He is waiting at the ropes to be tagged in. You can’t fight these battles and pass these tests without Him. In the hustle and bustle of this thing called motherhood, you can lose focus on the end goal. It isn’t just bringing up good kids, but His kingdom. The hard times are going to come. You can either give in and fall, or you can fight. Fighting means taking a breath and asking for His help. Never lose sight of your finish line that you will only reach with God at your side.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
–Ephesians 6:10-17