Court Date TODAY--results

First of all, thanks to EVERYONE for your wonderful prayers and thoughts. I cannot tell you how encouraging and reassuring it was to get your emails while I was praying & waiting (for over three hours!) to get in front of the judge. Overall, the court date went well. There are a few things I wish we could have addressed, but we couldn't. The judge DID tell my ex-husband that he was still responsible for a few things he was hoping to have written off. So, that was good. The judge also told him that he would be in contempt of court if he chose not to follow through with what he was ordered to do. So, that was good, too. He basically got a warning, which I guess is progress.

I was a little upset driving home. It's hard to feel like I do everything I can to make the right decisions while my ex does not and he continues to get away with so much without any consequences (for the last seven years). The phrase, "It's not fair!" comes to mind. I am reassured that someday he will have his true judgement day when he will be held accountable for all of his actions. Please pray that he may come to know Jesus at some point in his life. This would all be worth it to know that maybe it is just part of his journey to find Him.

One more thing...I LOVE it when God sends messages directly to us (and we realize it). There's nothing better than hearing a sermon speak directly to you about something you are struggling with at that very moment. I also love to look back over my life and see the struggles, failures, and triumphs and where they have brought me today. It's so incredible to think...hmmm--yes, I thought that was hard to deal with at the time, but look what God did in my life during that difficult time. SO, as I was driving home after court the song "It's all Yours" (by Steven Curtis Chapman) came on the radio. First of all, I always tear up on this song since he added the verse after his daughter's death. But, today it really hit home. I thought, we go to court over "issues & stuff" and whether the judgment made turns out to be "fair" or not, it's all His. All of it. What an awesome God we have that not only does He give us so much, but when we are struggling and having a hard time--we can give it to Him. I am very thankful for that.

ADVENT CONSPIRACY

Spend Less, Worship More

That has been our church's motto these last couple Christmas Seasons. It all started in 2006 when our church and three other churches decided that we really wanted to make a difference. Just four churches, but a huge difference. In 2007, many more churches decided they wanted to make a difference too. This year, it will be even bigger.

Do you want to make a difference in the world? Do you want to help make clean water available worldwide? Do you know that this is actually possible just by spending less at Christmas and donating some of that money you saved to Living Water? We challenge you and your church to join the Advent Conspiracy this year. Spend Less, Worship More. I hope you will take a couple minutes to watch the video below (put together by the amazing God-given talent at my church) and then go to www.adventconspiracy.org/ for more info and the opportunity to make a difference in many lives.

Lemhi Mountains, Idaho

I find the most beautiful landscape photos on Flickr. This one was taken by James Neeley. His description says, "Morning light falls on the Lemhi mountains in the distance, north of Mud Lake, Idaho and just before you get to Lone Pine." I have never personally been there, but what a sight it must be. This image just humbles me in admiration for God's miraculous eye for beauty & wonder. If you want to go to Flickr and see some of James' other photos, you can CLICK HERE.

Check out this great article . It's for couples and about the significant power of saying YES to the other person.

Favorite Quote/Verse

Here's a bible verse that has always been one of my favorites:

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1

No matter where we are in our lives at this very moment, we are here for a reason and a purpose. No matter what we may be dealing with right now, others have been through it and succeeded. How do we run with endurance? The next verse states, "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus". It is too easy to start to run for ourselves, but we need to refocus and keep our eyes on Jesus & his purposes. This verse always reminds me of that.

This is nice rendition of "I'll Stand By You" by Carrie Underwood. It's very moving when interpreted as "GOD" will stand by you, not Carrie Underwood herself, of course!!

Are your decisions guided by the HS?

So, my devotional today is about being guided by the Holy Spirit when making decisions...instead of by our own reasoning. That's hard to do!! It says that our minds reason, but the Holy Spirit discerns. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit makes better decisions than I do!

It's difficult to be a parent these days...I worry about the sex & drugs in MIDDLE SCHOOL, school shootings, what some of these kids are wearing at such a young age, and the terrifying fact that child predators seem to be everywhere. Rather than worrying about these things too much, I just pray that God will help Matt & I (and Mike & Kim) make the best parenting decisions while trying to raise good, God-loving kids (but not shoving the Word down their throat). I pray that they are aware of their surroundings and the fact that someday they will have to make decisions that will determine the direction of their own life.

"If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires"
Galations 5:16