"trials, testing, pokes and prods."

"consider it PURE JOY, my brothers, whenever you face trials of MANY kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops PERSEVERANCE. perseverance must finish its work so that you may be MATURE and COMPLETE, NOT LACKING ANYTHING. james 1:2-4

"brothers, as an example of PATIENCE in the face of SUFFERING, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the LORD. as you know, we consider BLESSED those who have PERSEVERED. you have heard of job's perseverance and have seen what the LORD FINALLY brought about. the LORD is FULL of COMPASSION and MERCY." james 5:10-11

"now listen, you who say, "today or tomorrow WE will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money" why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. INSTEAD, you ought to say, "IF IT IS THE LORD'S WILL, we will live and do THIS or THAT." james 4:13-15

it seems we were "here", (our new place in life) for about a month and it was boring and uneventful. it was basically a time of rest. which to me at that point felt "boring." but it was much needed. and now i see why.

the last few months have been very busy with one thing after another. good and bad. happy and sad. it feels we have been tested and poked and prodded. and even though it is not fun, it is necessary for our growth as humans...as christians.

we have plans, we have goals and we have them all set out all nice and pretty. and then "stuff" happens. (where you read "stuff" insert your "favorite choice word.":)

or everything is all hunky dory and then you get plowed with trials or a testing of some sort.

it is all for our good and GOD'S glory. at least that is what He says. so i suppose we should believe Him considering HE made the earth and all:)

so the tests and trials are to make us more mature? hmmm, couldn't maturity be acquired in some other easier way? guess not. guess He knows a little bit about our human race and how stubborn we are and difficult and hard headed and well, just plain slow:) we must expect trials and tests of ALL kinds. even the kind you don't expect...you have to expect. because if you are a christian and love the Lord and are walking with Him you will face "stuff."

the enemy, satan goes around like a roaring lion looking for prey to devour. he is allowed to poke us and tempt us and try to attack us. but he only has so much power. and every "attack" or prod is seen by the Lord. for satan CANNOT do ANYTHING that GOD does not allow. God knows what we can handle, He knows how we will respond and He ultimately knows what is best for us. He knows that the testing of our faith develops perseverance and perseverance, maturity. and spiritual maturity is what HE is after.
He wants our WHOLE heart, every part of us. so we can fully be His and be used by Him to bring about His mighty work.

"and we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the GOOD of those who LOVE HIM, who have been CALLED according to HIS PURPOSE." romans 8:28

so whatever trial, testing, poke or prod you are in or are facing, know that if you are a child of God, have given yourself to Him and are following Him and living for Him daily He's got your back:) He will give you strength to withstand the trial, to "stand up under" the temptation. meaning, being able to not give in to it. His plans for you are GOOD. His purposes are NOT to harm you. He will use it all for your GOOD...as He makes you more like Himself. and the rest for His GLORY. God is good.

a full plate

it seems there are a million and one things happening for me this week and the next. they are all good things for the most part. but either way it is just plain busy.

to start it all off, at the beginning of the week we received some news...we might have to move earlier than expected and start our new phase of life about 5 months sooner than expected. we were floored. i felt like i was going to puke all day long. i just didn't feel well. i also mentioned that our heads felt like they were exploding. and since then it has kind of just escalated. it just feels like one thing after another.

it looks like we probably won't be leaving early, but rather in 5 months like we originally expected. but something like this could happen again and then we may be caught off guard again. at least we will be a little bit more prepared if it happens again. at least we'll try. thinking that we might leave early brought up a ton of stuff for us. and then a few days later it seems we probably won't be going early. it was a rush of emotions and adrenaline.

tomorrow is my birthday and i am not too terribly excited about it because it just feels like..."one more thing!" i wish i could have it in june:)
i was hoping for a laid back week. no such luck.

this weekend is my grandma's memorial service. it will be sad, but there will be happy parts too. so i am looking forward to it and not looking forward to it all at the same time.

this weekend i am hosting a bachelorette party for my dear friend. she is getting married this summer overseas. so we are celebrating with her now. it will be fun and i am really looking forward to it. and have been planning it for awhile now. i love doing this sort of thing and it is extra exciting since it is for my good friend.

my four year old is driving me nuts today and i feel like i have been a terrible mother. she has not been napping this afternoon, but rather getting out of bed 5+ times to tell me she can't sleep. she has now been lying down for awhile, so hopefully she fell asleep. children without naps are like me without chocolate:)

it seems i am just in a rotten mood today and yesterday too. i have been praying and asking the Lord to help me but it feels like an uphill climb. and i am tired.

"naps" are almost up. so i will go enjoy the rest of my quiet time.
peace and love ya'll~