It Goes Up, Down and Eventually, Levels Out Again!

What is it that does all this? Well, there are probably several things that you can think of in your life that does this, but for me....

It's the storms....swells of the sea
It's the emotions...anger, joy, panic, disbelief and peace

After having a really bad Monday and Tuesday this week, I was determined when I woke up yesterday morning to make the best of what I had to work with and be content.

I absolutely loved working outside all day. I think that I got more work done than I normally do inside. :-)

There is just something so invigorating about being outside in the fresh, cool, crisp fall temperatures with a slight breeze. The breeze was so gentle and my papers stayed put on the table. I am thankful that I didn't have to weigh everything down or chase papers all over the backyard. That might have taken the joy out of being outside, huh?

I was settling into my contentment mode and making great progress on my paperwork...until the bad news came.

I received news yesterday that was a total blindside. Immediately the discontentment, fear, panic, anger, disbelief...all rose up inside me...all at the same time.

You see, we have been cruising along over the past two years with only a few slight bumps in the road of life. We have been challenged with some situations but God worked them all out and we moved on with life.

As we have watched many people that we know suffer with life and different situations...we have been moving along peacefully, praising God for our blessings and seeing what we could do to help others. Being thankful that it wasn't us for a change. We were under attack of the enemy for 7 years straight. It thought many times that I would lose my mind if we didn't catch a break.

Finally, two years ago...the swells calmed down and it was a smooth, calm sea that we were sailing on...finally! The winds picked up a time or two that made small waves but no real storm manifested itself from it. Again, we were so thankful that God was seeing us through and we were finally catching our breath.

The enemy had been silent now for about two years and he loves to give you a false sense of calm in your life. One that if you aren't careful, could become prideful...like..."look how well I'm doing", "look at us and what we have", "see how I am taking care of my life, family and business". That is another way for him to trip you up because we are nothing without Christ. We are nothing without Him and never will be.

There was always a slight thought in the back of my mind saying from time to time..."when is the enemy going to pull a surprise attack", "when will he blindside us", "I know that he hasn't forgotten about us" but, I thanked God for His provision and protection on our family, dismissed the thoughts and went on with life.

Yesterday, the attack came in the form of a blindside...it was totally unexpected and without warning. We didn't see it coming at all. Were we too comfortable in our lives? I don't think so. We were prideful in our thinking that we were causing all the good that was coming our way? Absolutely not. Were we nieve in thinking that the attacks weren't on the horizon? No, because I knew as long as we were serving God...we had a target on our lives and he would attack again.

So, what do you do when it comes? My emotions went right back up after calming down to settle in on contentment yesterday, the panic set in immediately..."what are we going to do?", "how should be handle this" and so on...my mind was racing. I am the emotional one and my husband is the calm one.

I called him and told him about the bad news that we received. He calmly said "I'm not going to worry about it until I know more about it. We need to call and see what this is all about". He said "I can't tell you not to worry because you probably will anyway, but I am not".

I stepped back, took a deep breath and prayed.

God, you are bigger than this news, this situation. You haven't brought us this far to leave us now. Your Word says "no weapon formed against us shall prosper, the plans that you have for me is to prosper and not to harm me, plans of hope and a future" and you also said "that the enemy intended to harm me with this attack but God, you will use it for my good". I am trusting You, Lord to handle this situation, guide us in the direction that You would have us to go and give us peace in the midst of the storm.

Today, I will be working on a game plan for this situation. I don't believe in being stupid, ignoring a problem and not researching all my options ahead of time. I will be fully prepared for the counter attack and will march forward in power and in might with God leading the way.

This too shall pass! Watch and listen to this beautiful song that I just found...wow!




I can't imagine living one day without Jesus Christ in my life. I don't understand...how do people make it day to day, in the world that we live it...WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST in their lives? Who do they cling to in the storms, who do they cry out to in the night, when their in pain, when the pain in so unbearable and they...... don't have the answers. WHO? HOW? I can't imagine a single day without JESUS CHRIST IN MY LIFE!!!

Isaiah 54:17 (Message)
But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Genesis 50:20 (Message)
Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now--life for many people.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Contentment

Contentment? Hmmmm....boy, have I been lacking in that area the past few days. For those of you who follow me on Facebook knows that I was struggling bad yesterday.

You see, I have a really hard time knowing that I have to work...a couple of times a year. In the spring and in the fall...I absolutely hate working. In the summer when it is in the 100's or in the winter when it's in the 30's....I don't mind at all. **YES, I'M THANKFUL FOR MY JOB AND MY WONDERFUL BOSSES....I'M NOT TAKING IT FORE GRANTED**

It started on Monday when it was absolutely gorgeous outside and I was stuck inside. I didn't deal with it right then and there but allowed it to fester and by yesterday...I was entering into full blown depression.

I have to be very careful during this couple times a year because I am so "unhappy" that my tongue will hurt others who are doing all they can for our family. I would come across ungrateful, selfish and probably spoiled. I am not saying that my tone, body language and attitude still doesn't say all of that but I am trying to not speak those exact words that are running through my mind.

When I get like this...I just want to be left alone and I don't want to talk to anyone. It is the safest place for me to be at the moment.

I love taking care of my family and devoting all my time and attention to them and our home. However, for me...I can't do it to my liking working a full-time job. I get very resentful when I start feeling like this.

I love to do all the housework, yard work, cooking, shopping and anything else that needs doing so my husband doesn't have to when he comes home from work. He is working two jobs...his regular job 5 days a week plus having to take call one week out of three. His second job is a part-time police officer in our town...which he loves. He works his full-time job and then goes to the PD for another 7-8 hours only to get up the next morning and do it again.

We use his PD check to save for vacations, home improvements and now a car for Tyler when he turns 16...which isn't far away.

We have looked at our finances, what we owe, our home and everything to see what we can get rid of so that I didn't have to work and there just isn't anything at this time. We desire things that we "want" to do that aren't "necessities" in life. These are new carpet in our home, vacation up the east coast, a car for Tyler that we can pay out right and a car for me the same month. We are striving to become debt free. Can we live without all these things? Absolutely!

All of that doesn't go hand in hand with me quitting work. I know this but it doesn't change the fact that I long too. I was a SAHM for 9 years and I loved every minute of it. I never got bored and I was at home, not out running around. I always had things to do to keep me busy. I loved it and I long so badly to be there again.

I have many friends, not all of them that don't have to work and that doesn't help either. Do I envy them? No, but I wish we had done things differently so that I didn't have to work.

I have gone over and over our 18 1/2 years of marriage and asked myself...what do you regret? What would you change if you could? There are only two things that I "regret" and would change if I could but....I CAN'T. I would have been more money conscious early in our marriage when my husband got big bonuses and I would have paid a vehicle off and kept driving it. We have had a car payment x 18 1/2 years. So, no sense crying over spilt milk but rather learn from your mistakes and don't do them again.

There are things that I will never regret and would do again regardless of the outcome. I don't regret taking the trips/vacations with my family that we have. They created memories that will last a lifetime...I would go on every one of them again. I don't regret buying our camper because it brings us so much pleasure, relaxation and more memories that we share with Tyler and our grandson, Mason. I hate having a camper payment but it is worth the sacrifice.

I began to pray last night for the Lord to help me to be content again with our lives and our situation. I work up this morning with a new attitude and a new determination to make the best of what I have.

You see, I have a great job. I work from home, with great, generous bosses but I just have to put the hours in and work to get it all done. So, why am I whining....because I don't want to even do that. But, that isn't an option, now is it? NO!

I was determined this morning to be creative and have the best of both worlds! So, as I type this...I am sitting outside on my patio, with my laptop, on a make shift desk, sitting under the umbrella and only squinting a little bit. I have my radio playing K-Love for the neighbors, a cool breeze, my Diet DP, my work, sunglasses on, my dog is out here with me and here's to a great day. Can't get much better than that...except, being unemployed! lol

I am learning once again to be content in whatever situation I find myself in.

Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (13) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

1 Timothy 6:6-8
But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (8) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.


Have a wonderfully blessed day!