Two Beautiful Songs

In the past month or so, I have heard two songs that just touched my heart so much by their words.

I think they are really appropriate to post, especially since Easter or Ressurection Sunday is coming up.

Enjoy!

Depraved Indifference and God's Will

Thoughts and words of adoption have been bounced back and forth between my husband and I over the last few years, but I don't think something that God has called us to do yet.  This video doesn't necessarily make me think I should go out and adopt a child, but more so that I should go out and do something. 

About a month ago, my husband had 2 interviews for a new position with his company.  We were really certain he was going to get the job since nobody else was even being considered for it and we as a family had some pretty unique qualifications that fit the position.  The job was going to mean moving to Mumbai, India.  We were excited about it because this is a place with lots of poverty - yes, you read it right.  We were excited about the poverty because we were excited at the ways God could use us there to help those children sleeping on the streets or the families with no food. 

Then, it occurred to me that there are people here in my community that don't have food or who sleep on the streets and what do I do to help them.  I don't usually because I have my daughter and I don't want to expose her to those harsh conditions, but yet I was okay with moving to India and her seeing the poverty all around her because it would show her how not everybody has what she has. 

Then, this brings me back to am I doing God's will.  I have been constantly searching for this great ministry to be a part of or this awesome way that I can help a person, family, child, whatever.  What I seemed to not see (until now) is that God IS using me to help others - I help my husband each day by washing his clothes and fixing his dinner and making sure he knows how much i care for him and respect him.  I help my daughter each day by getting her dressed, feeding her meals, teaching her God's Words, taking her to play dates and showing her how much I love her - this wonderful gift that God has given me.  I help my friends by encouraging them and praying for them and holding them accountable for their actions and words (hoping they will do the same for me).  I help the students in my Sunday School class at church by teaching them God's words and praying for them and showing them how much I care for them.

Is there more I could be doing?  Maybe, but I don't believe that God has called me to do anything else at this time.  Will I keep my eyes open for those other opportunities?  Of course, because as time goes on I believe The Lord uses us in different ways in our various stages of life. 

Because I Love You So Very Much

My previous post was talking about my family and what I think they need to do, but the sudden death of Crystal's father reminded me of things I need to do as well because like I said before we aren't guaranteed tomorrow.  One of those things is to tell my friends and family about my Jesus, my Savior.

I believe in heaven and hell.  I believe those who don't claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior will go to hell, so that is why I feel an urgency to share this with you.  Please know that I wouldn't share this with you unless I loved you!  I know a lot of Christians get slack because of their "holier than thou" attitude, I do not feel that I am that way - I am not sharing this with you to say you are wrong and I am right but to say that I believe with all my heart that we all need Jesus.

I was born a sinner and so were you.  You may think you are a good person because you do good things, but there are no good people on this planet.  We all fall short when it comes to God's commandments: we lie, we say God's name in vain, we covet things that other's have, we don't honor our parents, etc  Our God is a just God and so there has to be a price paid for our sins - in the old testament days they used to blood of a blemish free lamb, thankfully we don't have to do that now.  I would not be able to pay enough to cover my sins.  My amazing God sent his only son Jesus to earth to live a perfect life and to be crucified as a sacrifice for my sins and for yours. 

We all need Jesus!  I needed Him more than I thought.  (Read my testimony here), (or here)  The Bible says that if you:
1) Accept the fact that you are a sinner, that you do wrong, and repent of your sins
2) Believe that Jesus was God's son sent to save us AND
3) Confess with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and Savior
You will be saved! 

Be warned!  If you follow these steps, your life will be changed forever!  Things won't necessarily be easier (they may even be harder), but you'll have more peace than you've ever known, you'll always have someone to talk to, and the love God has always had for you (because you're HIS) will be more evident in your life.  You will see things very differently because your blinders will be off and you won't be living in darkness anymore  and because you will be living for Christ instead of for yourself.  We were created to worship and praise God - to live for Him!

We Are Not Guaranteed Tomorrow

We are not guaranteed tomorrow! 

 I know this in my head because I've read it in the Bible before, but sometimes it takes action before you realize something is true.   Recently, my brother's girlfriend's father passed away.  It was sudden and not expected, so it took everybody by surprise.  I didn't know the man, but I know Crystal and she is such a sweet person.  Her family is still grieving and dealing with the loss. 

This news hit me hard because I thought "What if that were my dad?"  My father and my 2 younger siblings do not have much of a relationship - they hardly every talk.  I don't think anything specific has happened to cause the distance, but it is there.  The same is true for my husband and his mother.  They hardly ever talk either.  I just picture myself in any of their places and it brings tears to my eyes.  They probably follow each other on Facebook, but is that enough for them?  Is that the kind of relationship you should have with your children or your parents? 

I cannot imagine going days without talking to my daughter to find out how she is doing.  I know I am not in their position and I don't know all the hurt and circumstances behind the distance but I just ask them all to picture yourself in a position like Crystal and you suddenly lose the other - how will you feel?  Will you have regrets? Will you be sad?  Will there be something you wished you have said?

How I Get Through the Grocery Store

It might not be the best way, but it works for me.  When I started using coupons, it started taking me a little longer to get through the store - this was about the same time my beautiful daughter decided she didn't like grocery shopping with me anymore and it was harder to appease her.  I got really frustrated for a while, but then I found something that works (for now).  Outside our grocery store, we have a merry go round and she started asking to ride it so....I told her if she didn't whine in the store and if she helped Mommy out in the store then she could ride it after we purchased our groceries.  It has worked for the past 3-4 months now.  It is worth the 50 cents to me to have a peaceful shopping trip in the store.  I know it will probably not work for more than a year, but for the time being.... :)

Christmas Homemaking

I'm not a huge "homemaker", but I do try to do things that I think will be fun for my daughter and her friends.  This year, before Christmas, we made Christmas cookies. It was store bought cookie mix, but we rolled it out with a rolling pin and cut out the shapes ourselves.  After the cookies baked, my little girl and her friends had a blast decorating them! 

Then, Lilly got to decorate a gingerbread house with her daddy.  She always has a great time with her daddy and she was very proud of the house!

On Christmas Eve, since we preparing for Jesus' birthday, we made a birthday cake and some birthday muffins.  It was the first time Lilly had helped me use a mixer and she really enjoyed it.  She really enjoyed eating them too!

Need Ideas

Okay, I need some advice from anybody who has potty trained a child.  My daughter is fully potty trained during the day, but night time is a whole different story.  I put her in a pull-up at night so that she can go potty when she needs to, but she wakes up soaking wet each morning.  A lot of mornings, it is even soaked through to the sheets and I have to change them.  I do give her a sippy cup of water that she usually empties by morning...I'm pretty sure I need to stop giving it to her, but I have tried and it is like when we took away her binky - she cries and cries. 

Any ideas?  thoughts?