Thursday, October 23, 2008

God Will Supply All Our Needs

If you are a parent with a child who has special needs, our church is the place to go. We have a great Special Needs ministry. Parents are supported by trained caregivers who supervise your child while you attend church and Sunday School. We also have a playground that is "Special Needs Friendly." Last Saturday I participated in a fundraising walk for our Special Needs ministry.





Then...on Sunday, we planted grass by the back door. I'm very excited about this. I'm tired of looking at the dirt. I'll post another picture when the grass starts filling in.



Don't you just love Mozart's decorative red air compressor on the porch. His friend was cleaning out his garage and Mozart came home with it. "This is great. We can pump up our motorcycle tires, blow air off the porch and use it with air tools."As soon as the grass is up, I'm transferring the wonderful machine to the shed.

And my son is still elsewhere. He has been out for two weeks. It's very hard on my mother's heart. Especially when he shows up looking tired and worn and hungry. You see, it was our decision to turn him out...due to a wrong choice he made. I'm anxious to have him back...to relieve my stress...but it's not time yet. (We do let him eat when he shows up hungry.)

When he does come back...it brings a different stress. It seems there is no comfortable solution. And he needs to find a job before he comes home...because when he's home...it seems he relaxes too much and is not motivated to find a job.

The job with the family friend that I met on back-to-school night hasn't happened. The work that our family friend was expecting, hasn't come in yet. I'm not sure if it will.

A friend in my Moms In Touch group has housed him for a few nights. I'm so thankful for that.

So one must trust God. And take things one day at a time.

My life has been full. My job at the school has been busy, and I also have an afternoon job as a caregiver.

Then of course there's the work at home...and trying to re-organize our money due to our country (and the world's) economic situation.

We truly are living in interesting times. I keep up with all the business news. I think I have found a new interest: Economics

I'm glad that underneath all of this...God is in control!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

God's Gift at a Yard Sale

Saturday, on the way to the grocery store, I passed a home with lot's of boxes, books and bikes sitting in the front yard. Clothes were stacked on tables. A yard sale! I decided to pull over and take a look. Maybe I would find some old towels. With three men in my home, my housekeeping rags and towels are always disappearing. Sometimes they reappear, with oil and grease on them!

And I love looking at books. As I flipped through the books, one caught my eye. "31 Days of Praise". I almost left it there, but I kept coming back to it. It occurred to me that although I pray often, I don't PRAISE often.

I bought the book...and I found some towels too! ($1.00 for everything.)

This book has been such a blessing to me.

Here are some portions of today's praise-Day 11.

Thank you that in your gracious plan to bless and use me, you've allowed me to go through hard times, through trials that many people go through in this fallen world. How glad I am that you're so good at reaching down and making something beautiful out of even the worst situations.

How encouraged I am when I think how you did this for Joseph...how his brothers hated and abused and betrayed him, and how you worked these things out for blessing, both for Joseph and his family and for countless other people.

I'm so grateful that all my past circumstances were permitted by you to make me see my need for you and prepare my heart for your Word...to draw me to yourself, and to work out your good purposes for my life.

I rejoice that you are the blessed Controller of all things.

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I Thessalonians 5:18

31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers
For more about the book click above.

Update: My son is supposed to start a new job next week with the man I met on Back-to-School night.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Weekend Alone

While Mozart was in Big Bear for the weekend, riding his motorcycle through the mountains, I decided to go see the movie "Fireproof". But little did I know that I was going to end up in the mountains...face to face with a bear!

Do to a mix up, I arrived at the theater 3 hours early. I didn't want to drive all the way back home due to gas, so I went for a short ride into the foothills. I was standing in a meadow, not far from a few people who were picnicing. Suddenly the picnic people scattered--grabbing their stuff-- and a bear walked up and inspected the table. Then he looked over at us hopefully. Of course we were now standing at a safe distance. A female ranger radioed for help. I debated about heading for my car...but decided to watch for a few more minutes. The bear headed for a locked trash can and inspected it. Then he checked out another table. When the bear started walking toward us, I took a few steps backwards, then very slowly walked to my car, got in, locked the door and headed down the mountain. I passed a jeep barreling up the road with three rangers in it.

What a way to kick off my weekend. By the way...the movie, "Fireproof", was good...about a young couple struggling in their marriage and how they worked through it—with help from a father—and with help from God. The movie was full of humor and emotion. The husband was a firefighter, and his life at the fire station added humor and drama to the movie. I think this is a great movie for young men to see who are contemplating marriage.

On Sunday, my youngest son and I drove to see my parents, and the four of us rode bicycles along the beach. It felt so good to get out.

My oldest son decided to meet with the man that I mentioned in my previous post. This was an answer to prayer! But he doesn't start for 2 weeks. Things are a bit dicey at home again. Some challenges here. Sometimes I'm so afraid for my son...and where his life is heading.

II Timothy 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.

This verse always gives me confidence. And it reminds me that God believes in me. I hope it encourages you, too!