Blessings and testings...

I have to say, for having a large family to provide for, we are blessed to live fairly comfortable. By comfortable, I mean our bills are paid and we don't have to worry about our needs if we are responsible with our money. I have to admit, I am not always the most responsible.

With Easter coming up and so many extra's to purchase, I was getting a little concerned this week. I prayed a lot, knowing God always provides. This morning I woke up financially worried. I had to turn it over to God several times . Outside was the most beautiful sunrise and I was in awe of how amazing God is, I knew all would be okay.

As I walked in my front door, my phone went off. It was my husband telling me a bonus check had come in. He normally gets these every couple months but this one was unexpected and a complete surprise. I knew and he knew it was an answered prayer.

About an hour later, I was wandering around a thrift store. It's one of my favorite things to do. I found a wallet that had tons of pockets in it. My wallet doesn't ever seem to have enough slots for all the cards and stuff I need it to hold. I was trying to decide if I wanted to buy this wallet and was looking through it when I came across money. The Lord had certainly blessed me this morning, now He was letting me be tested.

I have been through enough in my life that I know how serious it is for me to be obedient to what I believe to be right. I knew it was right to turn this money in. I sent my husband a message and of course he responded with a gentle encouragement that the right thing was to turn the money in and then told me I should buy the wallet for myself. So that is what I did.

As I was back in my vehicle I began to question, why do I have to always be so obedient? I wish I could not be obedient sometimes but my naughtiness is normally limited to sneaking to get ice cream while my kids are in school (and while I am on a diet).

 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshue 1:8 

It suddenly dawned on me, how quickly I had become ungrateful. So many prayers and blessing were received this morning. This amount of money wasn't significant compared to my husband's bonus. Why was I even letting this be an issue. Why had I so easily forgotten the blessings? 

I am grateful for today. I have been blessed and tested, and fed in more ways than one. 

"For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." Psalms 33:4

**The management did let me know the money was going to their charity fund for the youth which is what they do with money that is found in donated items. 

A Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ
~Johnna

I am ready!

     I was walking in the park with my daughters and I asked if they wanted to walk around the other side of the park and across the bridge that went over the small pond. My 8 year old said, ”Not the big bridge, it scares me!” She then ran up to my side and said, “first I have to hold my momma’s hand and then I can”. She grabbed my hand and exclaimed, “I am ready now!”

     One of the many things being worked on in my life is the time I spend with God, especially in the morning. I had begun praying at the end of the day for God’s will and purpose in my life and his direction. Then I would wake up the next morning and I would start getting ready and move on with my day, never stopping to ask for the one thing I was praying for, His direction. I was convicted! I began praying in the mornings, first thing, and overtime this has grown into getting up a little earlier and even reading the bible. (This time change has thrown me off again on exactly how early I am getting up so I am back to working on that.)

     A scripture that I found one day as my very thoughts were all over the place and I was wondering why I felt so scatterbrained was Matthew 12:30:

“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."

     As my daughter grabbed my hand today, all of this came to the forefront. Like children that, with all of their trust, grab their parents hand for guidance and reassurance, we have to grab our Heavenly father’s hand. We have to gather with him first, and then we are ready!

    If you haven’t been doing so, I urge you to grow into meeting with God every morning. This is an intentional action that will become habit over time. Pray, read your bible, talk to Him, whatever it takes to face your day. You will know you are being changed when your heart begins to exclaim, “I am ready.”

A Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ,

Johnna

Gaming Skills

I have recently discovered a puzzle game. It is pretty popular right now. You have to match 3 or more pieces of candy to get them to disappear off the board. There are different goals as you advance in levels in the game. I have noticed that while I am playing this game, if I don’t see a match for a minute or I have stopped to look up, 3 matching pieces will start flashing. This is the games way of helping me out by pointing me in the next right move.

I had to smile as I was thinking about this yesterday. It’s amazing how sometimes the silliest things come to me. I was thinking, how cool is it that when I be still, the right next move comes along. Not just a little either, it is flashing across the entire board and can’t be missed.

There is a scripture that teaches us to be still, it is one of my favorite…

 ^“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 KJV

In life, when we take the time to “be still”, God will often provide answers for us, and they will flash! We will KNOW it is God.

A Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ

~Johnna