I am blessed to be a part of an amazing church. I love my church. A few years back we started Imagine. As church members we donate new coats, new toys, and food for those in need. "Imagine everyone has a coat, toy, food, and Jesus for Christmas." I have always donated, but this year I stepped up and helped with the distribution. I decided to be a host. The job as host was to get to know the families and take them through to get the items and pray with them.
As a social worker I come into contact with those in needs everyday. But this was different. I got to not only meet their worldly needs, but their spiritually needs. I prayed with them. I heard the most heart breaking stories. I got to offer them the hope of Jesus. It was beyond rewarding. I helped 8 families. And I got to know prayer requests for each family. I will keep them in my prayers.
This holiday season try not to get wrapped up in Santa, trees, gift wrapping, baking, etc. Remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Remember the birth of our Savior.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
giving back/how blessed we are
I think sometimes we all take for granted how blessed we are. It is easy to do. We are hung up on our problems. Our problems are happening to us, so they feel so much bigger than what they really are. I have the opportunity to help at my church's food pantry. And I never cease to be amazed at how I leave being so thankful for what I do have...unlike the days I get crabby about the stuff I don't have.
I grew up on food stamps, food pantries, clothes from goodwill, donated toys, glasses from the Lions' club, and public aid health insurance. I know what it feels like to have to shop at the food pantry. While God has blessed me with being able to financial take care of my child, I never forget about how hard my mother struggle before we moved to Medora and she remarried.
In this materialistic world, it is so easy to get caught up in the newest gadgets, coach purses, latest concerts, etc. We are part of the me generations where we over indulge ourselves. I am so guilty of that. I have a shopping problem that is out of control ask my credit card or husband. We all try to justify it. "Well I work hard so I should play hard." "I didn't get a lot growing up so I am indulging myself now."
I think we should rethink it. I think we should stop indulging ourselves and help others. Before you spend another $30 on going to the movies. Think about buying food for a food pantry or toys for a toy drive. I am not saying you can't ever treat yourself. But try treating others. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel about where your time and money goes.
PS I helped a lady and her grandmother who was deaf/mute through the food pantry. Then I helped them load their car afterwards. I invited them to our church's Imagine drive. It is a drive where everyone in your house gets a new coat, each child gets a new toy, and you get a food basket. She told me how she came last year. But by the time she got to the front of the line, there were no coats in her size. She was using a blanket as a coat. A church member gave her the coat literally off her back. The lady tried to refuse and the member said no I have another one at home. This lady teared up while telling the story and how much it meant to her. So think about that story. Think how one small act of kindness can affect a life. Give back. There I am off my soap box.
I grew up on food stamps, food pantries, clothes from goodwill, donated toys, glasses from the Lions' club, and public aid health insurance. I know what it feels like to have to shop at the food pantry. While God has blessed me with being able to financial take care of my child, I never forget about how hard my mother struggle before we moved to Medora and she remarried.
In this materialistic world, it is so easy to get caught up in the newest gadgets, coach purses, latest concerts, etc. We are part of the me generations where we over indulge ourselves. I am so guilty of that. I have a shopping problem that is out of control ask my credit card or husband. We all try to justify it. "Well I work hard so I should play hard." "I didn't get a lot growing up so I am indulging myself now."
I think we should rethink it. I think we should stop indulging ourselves and help others. Before you spend another $30 on going to the movies. Think about buying food for a food pantry or toys for a toy drive. I am not saying you can't ever treat yourself. But try treating others. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel about where your time and money goes.
PS I helped a lady and her grandmother who was deaf/mute through the food pantry. Then I helped them load their car afterwards. I invited them to our church's Imagine drive. It is a drive where everyone in your house gets a new coat, each child gets a new toy, and you get a food basket. She told me how she came last year. But by the time she got to the front of the line, there were no coats in her size. She was using a blanket as a coat. A church member gave her the coat literally off her back. The lady tried to refuse and the member said no I have another one at home. This lady teared up while telling the story and how much it meant to her. So think about that story. Think how one small act of kindness can affect a life. Give back. There I am off my soap box.
Monday, October 19, 2009
take up my cross
Yesterday's sermon was a little rough on me. "If anyone comes would come after me, he must deny himself and take up the his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
Pastor Baker discussed how people misuse the saying, "This is my cross to bear." Currently people will use it for anything from a part of a joke they hate or a family member they can't stand. Or they use it jokingly about a spouse (well let's hope jokingly). Baker said if you are literally not marching to your death it is not your cross to bear. In Jesus' time carrying a cross meant you were on your way to be torture and hung from that cross to die. So whatever you are having to endure it is not your cross to bear.
We only had one main verse yesterday (see above). It was broken down and discussed. To truly follow Jesus you must die to yourself and your selfish ways. Baker said You have to wake up every morning and say I'm going to die today. Then all decisions would be clear. It makes sense. It sounds easy and certainly not a new concept. Live each day as if you were dying, because we are.
Where it got rough for me was when he discussed the things/people we need to die to in order to put Jesus first. In other words we need to put Jesus before anything else. I can do that with almost everything. Here is where I fall short. "Number one relationship must be Jesus." Wow. It is so hard. Baker talked about people who worship their children. I do NOT worship gabrielle. I don't. I do put her first in my life. He talked about how it is wrong to put anyone before Jesus. Then he talked how it is wrong to put your children before your spouse.
Mike knew when he first started dating me that gabrielle was first. As a single mom that is the only way. You can't be a good single mom and put guys before your child. It was gabrielle and I since her birth. I mean I was with her father but we weren't together. We lived in the same apartment but we didn't even talk on a daily basis. It was rough. I always put her first. Her father didn't like that. I can understand that. But he and I was beyond repair and this wasn't the reason we didn't work. Now Mike had a hard time at first. He will openly admit that. But he also knows every other weekend he gets my full attention. I don't know how he does it. I am a hypocrite because I could not handle it. But he does. And he accepts that gabrielle is first. He doesn't love me any less for it (though that might add to his long list of reasons why he doesn't want anymore children.)
So gabrielle comes first, then Jesus, then Mike. I am not saying this is the way it is suppose to be. I am not arguing against the sermon or the Bible. I know in my mind Jesus should be first. But my heart says gabrielle needs to be first. This is my struggle. You know that verse, Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." It is true we are all sinners. No one is perfect. This is my sin (not my only but my biggest struggle) putting gabrielle first. I pray about it. Maybe one day I can take that leap of faith and put Jesus first. But in the mean time, I take comfort that God knows my heart and knows that I am trying. Isn't that what it is all about? That we love God and we turn away from sin and turn to Him. I am trying.
Pastor Baker discussed how people misuse the saying, "This is my cross to bear." Currently people will use it for anything from a part of a joke they hate or a family member they can't stand. Or they use it jokingly about a spouse (well let's hope jokingly). Baker said if you are literally not marching to your death it is not your cross to bear. In Jesus' time carrying a cross meant you were on your way to be torture and hung from that cross to die. So whatever you are having to endure it is not your cross to bear.
We only had one main verse yesterday (see above). It was broken down and discussed. To truly follow Jesus you must die to yourself and your selfish ways. Baker said You have to wake up every morning and say I'm going to die today. Then all decisions would be clear. It makes sense. It sounds easy and certainly not a new concept. Live each day as if you were dying, because we are.
Where it got rough for me was when he discussed the things/people we need to die to in order to put Jesus first. In other words we need to put Jesus before anything else. I can do that with almost everything. Here is where I fall short. "Number one relationship must be Jesus." Wow. It is so hard. Baker talked about people who worship their children. I do NOT worship gabrielle. I don't. I do put her first in my life. He talked about how it is wrong to put anyone before Jesus. Then he talked how it is wrong to put your children before your spouse.
Mike knew when he first started dating me that gabrielle was first. As a single mom that is the only way. You can't be a good single mom and put guys before your child. It was gabrielle and I since her birth. I mean I was with her father but we weren't together. We lived in the same apartment but we didn't even talk on a daily basis. It was rough. I always put her first. Her father didn't like that. I can understand that. But he and I was beyond repair and this wasn't the reason we didn't work. Now Mike had a hard time at first. He will openly admit that. But he also knows every other weekend he gets my full attention. I don't know how he does it. I am a hypocrite because I could not handle it. But he does. And he accepts that gabrielle is first. He doesn't love me any less for it (though that might add to his long list of reasons why he doesn't want anymore children.)
So gabrielle comes first, then Jesus, then Mike. I am not saying this is the way it is suppose to be. I am not arguing against the sermon or the Bible. I know in my mind Jesus should be first. But my heart says gabrielle needs to be first. This is my struggle. You know that verse, Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." It is true we are all sinners. No one is perfect. This is my sin (not my only but my biggest struggle) putting gabrielle first. I pray about it. Maybe one day I can take that leap of faith and put Jesus first. But in the mean time, I take comfort that God knows my heart and knows that I am trying. Isn't that what it is all about? That we love God and we turn away from sin and turn to Him. I am trying.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
two years ago
Two years ago today I married my soulmate. I thought I would share our personal vows.
Mike: georgette, it's amazing how fast something like love can overtake a person. Almost a year aog we were nothing more than people who knew each other through a mutual friend. And now, here we stand together to be married. And over the course of that year, my love for you has grown into something that I have never ever felt before. It has consumed me, much like you consume my thoughts every single day. And that love continues to grow even today. every day I can look at you and feel even stronger that you are the one for me, you are the one that God meant for me to be with and to take care of. I love you more today than I did yesterday and I will love you more tomorrow than I today.
You and gabrielle are every thing to me. I will do everything in my power to provide for, care for, and protect both of you. there is nothing that I won't do do to make sure both of you live the lives that you both deserve. I love you more than any thing.
I love you for you beautiful red hair. I love you for your sparkling blue eyes. I love you for your warm, inviting smile. I love for you the large heart you have for others. I love you for ythe amazing freind that you are to me and others. I l ove yo ubecause you are an amazing mother. I love you because you like to cuddle. I love you because you make me feel good about myself. I love you because you keep me grounded. I love you because you make every one around you happy. And I love you because you are you.
So it is because of these reasons that I am marrying you today.
georgette:
I can't promise you everything will be perfect and full of rainbows and butterflies. I can't promise you that our beloved Cubbies will ever win the World Series. I can't eve promise that we will never fight or I will never push again. And I know I can't promise that gabrielle will always listen or ever be potty trained. But what I CAN promise you is that I will never stop loving you. I can promise to never give up or leave. I can promise to to always support your greams and goals. I can promise to always help motivate you in a positive direction. I can promise that no matter what life throws at us, the three of us will get through it together because of our love for each other and our faith in God.
I love so much about you. I love that you never are able to beat me in thumb war. I love that you some day soon will forget about the Bears and become a fan of America's team, the Cowboys. I love that you will not let me push you away. I love that you always look at me with such love and admiration. I love that you pray with me nightly. I love that you can do the impossible and make me believe in myself. I love that you support all my hopes and dreams. I love that you love and treat gabrielle as if she were your own child. I want you to know that I love you simply because you are you. Because of these reasons I am marrying you today.
Mike: georgette, it's amazing how fast something like love can overtake a person. Almost a year aog we were nothing more than people who knew each other through a mutual friend. And now, here we stand together to be married. And over the course of that year, my love for you has grown into something that I have never ever felt before. It has consumed me, much like you consume my thoughts every single day. And that love continues to grow even today. every day I can look at you and feel even stronger that you are the one for me, you are the one that God meant for me to be with and to take care of. I love you more today than I did yesterday and I will love you more tomorrow than I today.
You and gabrielle are every thing to me. I will do everything in my power to provide for, care for, and protect both of you. there is nothing that I won't do do to make sure both of you live the lives that you both deserve. I love you more than any thing.
I love you for you beautiful red hair. I love you for your sparkling blue eyes. I love you for your warm, inviting smile. I love for you the large heart you have for others. I love you for ythe amazing freind that you are to me and others. I l ove yo ubecause you are an amazing mother. I love you because you like to cuddle. I love you because you make me feel good about myself. I love you because you keep me grounded. I love you because you make every one around you happy. And I love you because you are you.
So it is because of these reasons that I am marrying you today.
georgette:
I can't promise you everything will be perfect and full of rainbows and butterflies. I can't promise you that our beloved Cubbies will ever win the World Series. I can't eve promise that we will never fight or I will never push again. And I know I can't promise that gabrielle will always listen or ever be potty trained. But what I CAN promise you is that I will never stop loving you. I can promise to never give up or leave. I can promise to to always support your greams and goals. I can promise to always help motivate you in a positive direction. I can promise that no matter what life throws at us, the three of us will get through it together because of our love for each other and our faith in God.
I love so much about you. I love that you never are able to beat me in thumb war. I love that you some day soon will forget about the Bears and become a fan of America's team, the Cowboys. I love that you will not let me push you away. I love that you always look at me with such love and admiration. I love that you pray with me nightly. I love that you can do the impossible and make me believe in myself. I love that you support all my hopes and dreams. I love that you love and treat gabrielle as if she were your own child. I want you to know that I love you simply because you are you. Because of these reasons I am marrying you today.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Marriage
"Marriage is a lifetime commitment to unconditionally loving an imperfect person."
I am obsessed with Moody radio. It is a Christian station that has sermons. I caught one the other day on marriage. The above quote was on there. I love quotes and especially this one. Through out pre-marriage counseling, we discussed what to do when the honeymoon phase is over. How it is about the marriage not the wedding. Let's be honest, there are days that marriage isn't fun. You are fighting with your partner about stupid things like laundry and dishes or important things like family or money. And there may be moments where you (let's be honest) look at your spouse and think I don't like you, but I do love you. I hear all the time about someone who doesn't like their spouses or how they have nothing in common or how they are just staying married for the kids or companionship. That is truly sad. I am crazy about my hubby. I like him 95%, the other 5% he can annoy me but I still love him. We have tons in common but enough different interests to make life fun. And I think it is insane to stay with someone just because of the kids or companionship. I take marriage serious. The above quote says it all. You walked down that aisle and made a commitment to God and your spouse to love them no matter what for all your life. In my wedding vows I told Mike I couldn't promise all rainbows and butterflies, but I could promise that no matter what life threw at the 3 of us we would get through it due to our faith in God. I believe the marriages that fail are the ones that both parties do not have God in the center of the life and their marriage.
I believe that with God as the center of your marriage and your life, your marriage will thrive. I also believe that if you chose to get married you should take that commitment serious and not give up because you don't like your spouse or have different interests. Every day will not be rainbows and butterflies but everyday will be worth it.
I am obsessed with Moody radio. It is a Christian station that has sermons. I caught one the other day on marriage. The above quote was on there. I love quotes and especially this one. Through out pre-marriage counseling, we discussed what to do when the honeymoon phase is over. How it is about the marriage not the wedding. Let's be honest, there are days that marriage isn't fun. You are fighting with your partner about stupid things like laundry and dishes or important things like family or money. And there may be moments where you (let's be honest) look at your spouse and think I don't like you, but I do love you. I hear all the time about someone who doesn't like their spouses or how they have nothing in common or how they are just staying married for the kids or companionship. That is truly sad. I am crazy about my hubby. I like him 95%, the other 5% he can annoy me but I still love him. We have tons in common but enough different interests to make life fun. And I think it is insane to stay with someone just because of the kids or companionship. I take marriage serious. The above quote says it all. You walked down that aisle and made a commitment to God and your spouse to love them no matter what for all your life. In my wedding vows I told Mike I couldn't promise all rainbows and butterflies, but I could promise that no matter what life threw at the 3 of us we would get through it due to our faith in God. I believe the marriages that fail are the ones that both parties do not have God in the center of the life and their marriage.
I believe that with God as the center of your marriage and your life, your marriage will thrive. I also believe that if you chose to get married you should take that commitment serious and not give up because you don't like your spouse or have different interests. Every day will not be rainbows and butterflies but everyday will be worth it.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
What I love about Sundays
We have been having a wonderful sermon series at church called What I love about Sundays. Each week we have focused on different parts of Sunday service that we love from tithing to music to fellowship. Today the sermon focused on Baptisms. We baptized over 35 people today. And Pastor Mike talked about his memories of past baptisms. That made me ponder the baptisms I have seen over the years, starting with my own.
On March 10, 1990, my mother, my older sister, my older brother, and I were baptized in my childhood Southern Baptist Church in Medora. It was amazing to be able to share the moment with my family. To be baptized is to be reborn in Christ. It isn't to say that you spend your life being perfect. I am far from it. But I have a peace and grace knowing God has forgiven me. I know where I will spend my eternity. My faith is my driving force that has gotten me through every rough spot over the years. And when I stumble and fall off the right path, I know God is always there to welcome me back with open arms.
December 2007, my husband of less than 2 months told me he wanted to get baptized. I told him no. I thought he was doing it to make me happy, I said let's wait and pray about it. In May 2008, I got the privilege of baptizing the love of my life. It was moving and wonderful. It was the beginning of our Christ center marriage. I am glad we prayed about it and waited until we knew he was doing it for all the right reasons.
Today Pastor Mike said there is a lot of decision about baptism and whether you need to be baptized to be a Christian. But if you look back in the Bible the earliest followers never debated it. When they decided to follow Christ they were submerged into the water to die to sin and be reborn to Christ. I liked that Pastor Mike talked about that. Too many people think it is useless step. If it is a useless step then why did Jesus get baptized by John the Baptist. He was showing us how to make your commitment to God. If you haven't been baptized, pray about it. Open yourself up and see where God leads you.
On March 10, 1990, my mother, my older sister, my older brother, and I were baptized in my childhood Southern Baptist Church in Medora. It was amazing to be able to share the moment with my family. To be baptized is to be reborn in Christ. It isn't to say that you spend your life being perfect. I am far from it. But I have a peace and grace knowing God has forgiven me. I know where I will spend my eternity. My faith is my driving force that has gotten me through every rough spot over the years. And when I stumble and fall off the right path, I know God is always there to welcome me back with open arms.
December 2007, my husband of less than 2 months told me he wanted to get baptized. I told him no. I thought he was doing it to make me happy, I said let's wait and pray about it. In May 2008, I got the privilege of baptizing the love of my life. It was moving and wonderful. It was the beginning of our Christ center marriage. I am glad we prayed about it and waited until we knew he was doing it for all the right reasons.
Today Pastor Mike said there is a lot of decision about baptism and whether you need to be baptized to be a Christian. But if you look back in the Bible the earliest followers never debated it. When they decided to follow Christ they were submerged into the water to die to sin and be reborn to Christ. I liked that Pastor Mike talked about that. Too many people think it is useless step. If it is a useless step then why did Jesus get baptized by John the Baptist. He was showing us how to make your commitment to God. If you haven't been baptized, pray about it. Open yourself up and see where God leads you.
Monday, August 24, 2009
survived
It was hard but we made it through her first few days. I cried so hard that I gave myself a migraine. It was so painful yer happy at the same time. I am proud that she went she is a big girl and started kindergarten. But I am sad that my baby girl is growing up. It is bitter sweet. She loves her teacher and her class. She loves going to school all day. She loves having the choice of hot lunch or cold lunch. She is happy and that is all that matters. I am adjusting. Today was weird because it is my first Monday with no work and no gabrielle. I will be volunteering in her school, but that hasn't started yet. So I am spending the day cleaning and catching up on laundry and housework. I kind of let everything go because last week was rough on me. So we made it. And I do believe one day soon I will not tear up dropping her off at school. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
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