It's A.....

For those of you NOT on Facebook, we found out today what we are having. It is a healthy baby BOY!! And for those of you that somehow didn't know we were expecting, consider yourselves notified. We are 20 weeks now, and are due somewhere around Thanksgiving. (I never go all the way to my due date...) Be blessed!!

I'm Thankful to be A Christian Because...

This holiday finds me for the first time, in I don't know how long, with nowhere to go for the holiday; and I am thankful for that. In a blended family with parents that come from blended families, that is surely a rarity. Don't get me wrong, I love visiting my various family members, but sometimes it just gets so tiring. Anyway, that's not what I want to write about today. Today I want to write about why I am thankful to be a Christian. This is part of a Group Writing Project hosted by On the Horizon, The Next Step and Myself.

There are so many reasons to be thanful to be a Christian, that I am at a loss as to where to start, so I'll start the same way I've learned to pray at times. Using my hand, I'll use each of the digits to pray for and be thanful for something today.

Starting with my thumb, the digit closest to me, I am thankful that being a Christian means that I am blessed with a wonderful husband and four beautiful children. You may wonder, how does that relate to being thankful to be a Christian, so I'll tell you. Without God in my life and at the center of my life, I would not have the family that I have today. Most all of you have read my testimony, so you know a portion of who I was before the Lord entered my life. You also know then, that I did not have the blessed family that I have now. So I am thankful to be a Christian because without this designation, I would still be an unhealthy, unhappy broken soul, that belonged to a broken family.

Next, with my pointing finger, I'm praying for and thankful to be a Christian because of the teachers in my life. This includes my pastors, and the other bloggers that teach me more of what it means to be a Christian. Reading His Holy Word, has taught me so much about how to be a Christian and how to have a life full of blessings. I could never express in words adequate enough, how many changes my life has gone through having this Instruction Manual for living my life for God. Learning how to live selflessly, even when I don't do it perfectly all the time, has improved my life so much!!!

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV

Next with my middle finger, the tallest of my fingers, I will pray for and be thankful that I am a Christian in a country that allows for Christian leadership. And even for those that are not Christian, I am still thankful to be a Christian in this country, where persecution is still relatively mild. Being a Christian in this country, I can be thankful that I can minister to others, and worship my God, without fear of repercussions. Knowing God, I live for the moments when I can witness to others, His Good News.

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV

Next, with my ring finger, the weakest of all, I am praying for and thankful that being a Christian means that I can help those that are weaker than I. Whether that be with prayers, ministry, or monetary help, being a Christian means that I have the opportunity and the blessed responsibility to help those less fortunate than I. Before I was a Christian, I did not have the heart that I now have for these down trodden, and for the children that I now have. I am thankful for the exhortation that the Word gives to us for these.

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:36-40 NKJV

Lastly, I pray for and am thankful to be a Christian for the way it has affected me. Being a Christian has shown me that I have so few needs. I pray that I will always remember to store up my treasures in Heaven. Being a Christian has taken my focus off of myself, and put it on those around me. I am thankful to be a Christian, maybe for this reason the most. I can show love to those around me, without shame, and without worry about whether they deserve it or not. Because it doesn't matter. God loves them, and so do I. God loves me, regardless of what I do to earn His Divine Love. For all these reasons, I am thankful to be a Christian. Blessings to all of you, this holiday season.

Please click here to read other entries in this Writing Project.

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For My Wonderful Husband

Many of you know what a great relationship my husband and I have. Many of you know that he also reads my blog everyday, and often adds a quip here or there to tease or encourage me. So far, I have not made a point of bragging on my husband, and I'm sure that there are times when he might wonder why. Though bragging on him is not the purpose of my blog, having a great marriage is one of the aspects of this blog. So today, I want to tell the world why I think my hubby's the best. Please don't hate me, because my husband's beautiful. :)

He has the most beautiful green eyes that when they are uncovered (he likes his sunglasses), causes even the most faithful of women to want to stare into them, and drown in their depths. I suppose that could be a stumbling block, but I don't mind. They are beautiful, after all.

He has a magnificent body that he does not have to work at (I'm kinda jealous of this fact, because I DO have to work at any semblance of a nice shape, but oh well.) I like to look at it, so we're even.

He takes me on a date night almost every week. He takes me to dinner or a movie, and some date nights, we just sit and "park." We're married, so it's allowed. I love that we still desire each other even after 7 years. I know that's not a long time, but for a second marriage, complete with four kids, that IS an accomplishment. Thank God for healthy marriages!!!

He sends me flowers just because. And just to say he loves me.

He cooks (sometimes better than I do); he cleans, and he loves to be alone with the kids, while I have time away.

He goes to work everyday (even when he's sick) so that I don't have to go to work anymore. He works at a job he doesn't like (though he is grateful for it), building things he has no liking for (miniature trains) and he does it all pretty much without complaint.

He sends me music videos of love songs all the time, and sometimes he sings to me. He won't sing in public, though he has a nice voice, but he sings to me. I am so blessed!

He encourages me in everything I do, even when it isn't pleasant for him (my blog). He tells me I am a great writer (that's arguable). He encourages me to sing in the choir, though I'm not a great singer- only ok. He tells me I was born to act, though I only get to do it at church. He is my cheering section.

He knows me better than I know myself sometimes. He knows when something is bothering me, and holds me when I need to cry.

He's one of the few men I've ever met that actually likes and wants to cuddle. Yes, he really does!

He joins Women's Health Forums, so that he can get information and answers for me. He takes better care of me, than he takes care of himself, I sometimes think.

All these things I mention are not to make you covet what I have, but just to let my husband know that all the little things he does are BIG to me. I love you so much, My Love!! God blessed me beyond measure when he gave you to me.
Your Forever Love.

There is no "MORE" to this post.

Inviting Persecution by Shalene

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV

Do I invite persecution, perhaps I do. I won't go into too much detail, but because of the nature of my previous posts (the ones that I have now deleted) I have brought persecution upon myself. Am I upset by this? No, I'm not. I count it all blessing that I am being persecuted, because that then means that I must be doing something to further His kingdom, and something that the deceiver does not want me to do. For the record, I did not delete the posts because of the persecution, but rather for the sake of those souls that may come to my blog seeking Truth. I do not want the content they find here, to in any way cause them to stumble in their search of Him. I had actually discussed this matter with my husband last night, prior to the events I am labeling persecution.

After thinking long and hard about it, and prayer on the same subject, I have determined that there comes a point, when no amount of cajoling, pointing out error, or persuasion will win a person over. Having said that, I felt it was best that I not continue to try to win over the subject of my previous posts, as he was not willing to be won over. It is not our job to convince them of the Truth, but to show them The Way. God cannot be explained with any amount of logic. Hallelujah, Praise Him!

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. 1 Corinthians 14:12 NKJV

I continue to pray that I will be given the opportunity to use my spiritual gifts to the fullest, so that the church may be edified, and all glory be to Him.


--Lord, I thank you today, that I have been persecuted for my belief in You. I also thank You for the opportunity and the learning experience I was given in this circumstance. I will not give up this race, that You have given to me to run. I will continue to be salt as much as You give me ability to be. I ask for your continued blessing upon me. I ask for the continued wisdom and discernment needed to be a fisher of men. I pray for the hardened hearts to be softened. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.