A QUICK answer

At ten in the morning yesterday, I stepped outside on a clear crisp morning for some fresh air. I made a conscious decision to pray and ASK the Lord to bless my family so that we could be more of a blessing to others. Maybe it will encourage your faith as it has mine to hear how quickly the Lord answers our prayers.

Chad called me at lunch time and said "I've have to tell you about my morning!"

On the way to class at 10am, he was walking down the "cow path" at Ball State University and found a $100.00 bill laying on the ground. He asked people who were around if they lost it, no one claimed it, so He said thank you Jesus and put it in his wallet!

Another concern he had was instantly resolved when He found that that the class he was concerned about was cancel for the day.

My anniversary day at work is July 24th, I didn't expect a raise until then. I found out at 10:30am that I was getting a raise effective immediately!

Within a half hour of daring to ask the Lord to Bless our family, three totally unexpected blessing were poured out.

Not all blessing are monetary, be we need to understand that it is the Lord's PLEASURE to bless his children in every way. If you are a parent, think about how much you want nothing but good things for your kids. How much more does Jesus want to bless us and to see us walking in the fullness of everything He as designed for our lives.

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

What IS True

The way I feel is not a true reflection of Truth because it is influenced by

• Physical tiredness
• Chemical imbalances
• Circumstantial concerns
• Spiritual attacks

NO MATTER HOW I FEEL, I KNOW:

• The Word of Faith is in MY mouth.
• And that word of Faith can remove mountains
• If I ASK I will receive
• If I SEEK I will find
• If I KNOCK the door will be opened.

It is not enough just to have knowledge of the Word of God. I MUST speak it into my life and ACT on it Daily for it to have an impact.

It is not enough just to Believe in God, I MUST BELIEVE GOD!

If he said it, it is True.

Why should I hesitate to pray BIG prayers and BELIEVE for Great things?

• My need is not going to tap out God’s supply of blessings.
• God’s plan for my life is Greater than I have imagined.

LORD open my heart and my mind to receive the AWESOME Plan you have for me TODAY!

Crop Circles on Chelsea's Leg

The other morning Chelsea woke up and thought she had been abducted by aliens. There was this perfect crop circle pattern on her leg. Little green dots arranged in perfectly symmetrical patterns. VERY STRANGE. It was so impressive that Chase wanted his picture taken with the pattern so that he could be famous.

After much speculation and imaginings, We went and looked in her bed and found that she had slept on her St Patrick's day green bead necklace. Of course I am still not convinced she wasn't abducted by aliens and they used this as a clever rues to throw us off of their track.

A Christmas Miracle in April

Last Thursday after work we got home and loaded up our Dodge Stratus for the trip to Louisiana. We purchased a car top carrier to put all the bags in it so Chelsea, Charity and Chase could fold down the back seats and stretch out and sleep during the night. Just as we left Indianapolis it started to rain. It rained solid and heavy for the next 16 hours as we struggled to stay awake and drive to Shreveport. We stopped around 9am in Little rock Arkansas for breakfast at MacDonald’s and found that a Tornado had passed about ½ a mile from where we were during the night and had wiped out a Trailer Park. I drove until almost Texarkana and then Debbie drove. Just after we got off of interstate 30 and started heading south toward Shreveport, the Low Fuel light came on. We had never traveled this road before and so we didn’t know how far it was to the next gas station. Only Debbie, Chase and I were awake and when I dozed off Chase told Debbie, “Well it’s just you and me now MOM!” He was so worried and watching that fuel gauge. I woke up again and every time we thought we had found a gas station it was closed and all dried up. We could see pumping oil wells all around us, but NO GAS! 10, 20 , 30 miles we were getting nervous. Finally we saw a stop light and thought surely there would be something there. We were in Ida Arkansas and we found a Real Gas Station! What a relief! Chase exclaimed “It’s a Christmas Miracle!” We knew we could make it on in to Papa and Grandma's now.

It doesn't matter what month it is. We all need a good ole Christmas Miracle every now and then.

A New Day

This is a new day. I am so glad that we know that the mercy of the Lord is "New Every Morning". The Word say that we are to take up our cross "daily" and follow Him. This really is a day by day walk. I will live tomorrow when it arrives. I have already lived yesterday and no matter how much money or power I would have, I cannot change what happened even one minute ago. So I am going to forget those things that are behind me, and press toward the mark of the high calling of God. With the help of the Lord I am going to initiate some changes in my life.

• I am going to get healthy. Eat right, Move and drink more water
• Feed my soul good things
• Use my time more wisely to focus on what I want to accomplish
• Be an encourager

I am going to be posting some photos occasionally to document my journey.

First Love

I found out in April that one of my dearest friends is extremely ill. In May he went to Mayo Clinic and after a couple weeks was given the news no one wants to hear. Cancer.

I have experienced cancer in my own family with my mom and dad. There are no words that I can say that will heal or soothe the soul. Only Jesus can comfort and give us hope. What I have found is that when I am faced with the most difficult of circumstances, my natural desire is to want to know the answers. Why is this happening? What is the purpose? What I have learned is there is something more important than answers to all my questions.

This is learning to be intimate with Jesus. Just sitting at His feet like Mary, Martha's sister. That is the "Better Part". Just enjoying the presence of Jesus. It should feel like you're just hanging out with an old friend. Love, acceptance and relaxing. No pressure.

That is how I feel when I am with my friend who is so sick. Being around him raises me to a higher level. Our relationship makes me better "iron sharpens iron".