Chaos!

I'd like to start this post by repeating something I recently read in a book, "Any idiot can handle a crisis, it's the day to day that I struggle with!!". AMEN!!

My washing machine has been on it's last leg for awhile now. Being the miserly shopper that I am, I have tried to limp it along in order to put off spending money. Yesterday, I finally came to terms that in the course of this waiting game, prices have NOT gotten any cheaper. So, I did it!! I purchased a machine.

Today, it was delivered and that's where the title of this post fits in...CHAOS, it was indeed!! The first delivery man was waiting at my house when I arrived from work, standing nose to noes with the garage door, the machine almost in his arms. He was ready!! He sets the new machine in the garage and we walk in the laundry room while he exclaimes, "WOW, this is old!! I can see why you're getting a new machine!"

Not that looks are the reason for a new machine, not that age is the reason for a new machine, (boy, that thought it itself could preach -- look at the inside buddy), but perhaps it was the fact that my old machine would only use HOT water, maybe it was the fact that about every 8 loads, you had to take the agitator off and unwind the article of clothing that had wound up and lodged around the greasy aditator.

Anyway, the technician attempted to move the machine out of my laundry room. In my best "womanly voice" I asked him, "Should I turn off the water to my entire house??" To which he replied, "no, not a problem." I trusted him. He was of course the PROFESSIONAL and I the meager woman. It was only after I was standing in a puddle of water that I realized the problem with that trust. Needless to say, with my new machine left sitting in the garage, the technician's parting words of wisdom were "call a plumber" and he left.

So, I called the store in which I purchased the machine and asked for a recommendation for a plumber. After sharing my story, the manager said he would be right over. To make a long, story short, I am now back at work. After 2-1/2 hours of a "FREE INSTALLATION" I am in fact, exhausted. It is amazing what a little "out of the ordinary" stress does to a person.

Home...at last

My boys returned home late last night. They spent last week with our youth group in Colorado Springs...which loosely translates into...I haven't spoken with these boys since the day they left...which happened to be my birthday...ok, ok, get focused here.

Anyway, as they unloaded the plush "chartered bus", I noticed a sweet spirit about them. Something was different. Could it be that all the "fasting" (because they were short on cash) had gotten to them, OR, could it be the loneliness of being away from mother (remember I said they NEVER called), OR, could it be that indeed God moved upon their lives?

As our evening unfolded, they began to share about their experiences of the past week. Amongst the "normal" boyish belching and the competitions of "passing gas", I sensed that God DID speak to these young men in a POWERFUL way!! Christopher said God revealed to him, he is to become a Worship Pastor!! That is so AWESOME!! Boston said his favorite part of this trip was NOT the white water rafting, NOT swimming at the 3 hotel pools, NOT the visit to the Air Force Academy, NOT gazing at the mountains, NOT the Garden of the Gods, BUT the Desperation Conference itself!! Isn't that just like God to let the one thing that "mommy" was nervous about (him sitting through a conference for three days), be the most life changing event thus far in his life!!

I can say with certainty, a great time was had by all!! Welcome home!!

God's up to something

I just returned from an outstanding, amazing, wonderful weekend at Teen Challenge. It was Wives Weekend so all 9 of the Wives of the guys in the program came for a weekend retreat. Norm Wenig was our guest speaker and he challenged us to begin a journal. I figure blog../..journal...ok, I can do this.

Throughout the weekend, God spoke many things to me. Some of the items I would like to share about today are:

1) I learned the root cause of my anger. When I was a child, my parents rarely disciplined. I learned in order to get my way, I had to throw a fit. As I got older, the "fits" I chose to throw had to get bigger and bigger. This method worked beautifully in my younger years. Unfortunately, now that I'm a tad bit older, no one likes me to act that way...including myself. Since I'm aware of the root cause, I am now able to deal with the issue.

2) I became aware that for the past 11 years, I have blamed Jay for all the "stuff" leading up to our divorce. Even now that we are remarried, in my mind, I continued to blame everything on him. It wasn't until Saturday, July 29 that I realized I, too, played a GREAT part in the demise of our marriage. After asking for forgiveness from the Lord, as well as my husband, I have found freedom.

3) I stand amazed as the Lord is beginning to challenge Jay and I in new areas of our lives:
a) Jay shared with me about having prophetic dreams.
b) We had a powerful visitation from the Lord regarding issues in my heart I have buried deep. I felt the Lord's arms actually holding me.
c) A deeper form of discernment is beginning to pour out on our entire family.
d) Freedom is upon us.

4) We visited an Assembly of God church in Ankeny, Iowa that was FILLED with the Spirit of God. It was a unique experience for me. I witnessed young boys and girls (ages 10-12) on their faces at the altar during Worship. One even had a "word of knowledge" for the Pastor about a healing that day. I learned about a Spirit of TRAVAIL. It was incredible!!



This was a life changing weekend. God is totally amazing!! There is so much more to share. I'm challenged to keep this journal as Pastor Norm has encouraged us to do. I'm sure that out of that challenge, more exciting posts will come. I'm looking forward to it.

God Bless It!!!