What a week!

What more can I say than Thank God this week is over! Tuesday night was the only real exception....excluding fellowship times of course. This week has been rough beginning last Saturday and concluding today...I hope! I pray that God starts tomorrow off for me in a much better direction! I am ready to let this weeks negativity and trials stay in the past and look forward to seeing God work in so many wonderful positive ways.

Here is my confession on my biggest struggle so far in leading a Christian Life- my tongue! I am trying so hard to use it only to bless God as it is says James 3. (side note: the book of James was written for me!) I have to say that I am doing so well with this struggle. Things have happened in the past few weeks with work and home, and I find myself not reacting the way I once I did. I notice that I am thinking before I speak- which if you knew me before I rededicated my life to Christ is a huge accomplishment! I also don't use the same words in my conversations as I once did and that too is something to be proud of. Today, I had someone from work call and tell me that she was walking off the job and my reaction was to smile and say wow- I can't believe that just happened. Two months ago, I would've retold the story with several choice words and a lot of anger. God is SOOOOOOOO working on me! My husband even remarked to me today saying- wow, I can't believe you handled that in such a calm manner. It's so wonderful that people are noticing these changes, but it makes me see how corrupted I was at one time in my life. God, I know how hard it must be, but please.....keep TRANSFORMING me!!!!!

Tonight, at my mom's urging, I found myself reading the book of Ephesians. Yes mom, I too read the WHOLE book of Ephesians. Twice actually, the NIV version and the Message version. One section stood out to me during this study more than any other and I had to comment on it.

Eph. 2:18-22 reads "18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built
together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

This scripture spoke to me in two different ways. First is the obvious- verse 22 is exactly how I feel right now. I feel like Jesus is going through my heart and saying- hey, we need some room in here and is throwing out all the junk. To that I say- there's a lot of junk- please throw it all out! ;-) (I can't help but think of the shirt I wore the night of my baptism- Extremer Makeover- LIFE edition!) Ok, time to be serious.... I do feel like Jesus is pushing out all of the bad things in my life and I couldn't be more thrilled about that. To know that Jesus sees all of the mess and still LOVES me and SAVED me is just mind blowing. That is the true meaning of non-judgemental, unconditional love. Aren't we all just so blessed to have this love given to us by our Father? It still amazes me and at this point, I am pretty sure it always will. I pray that my family and my friends sees the changes that this love can make and seek to learn the TRUTH as I have. As I told a friend recently, I am lucky to know her now on earth, but I would be BLESSED to spend eternity with her with our Father.

The second way I feel the scripture spoke to me is in explaining the Pitman Church of Christ. I know that our congregation's purpose is found in The Great Commandment (Matt. 22:34-40) and The Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), but this scripture explains a lot too. "...you are no longer foreigners.... but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household... In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple..." This explains what happened with my family perfectly! When we first start going to the Pitman church of Christ, we felt like foreigners (even to my home church to be honest). The people of Pitman welcomed us with open arms even without knowing who we were(Franny's family). Most didn't even know at first and still, they welcomed us and LOVED us. They showed us that we were HOME with our brothers and sisters in Christ and that we are now FAMILY, not foreigners! What joy it is to know that there is such a wonderful family we can turn to in time of need and in time of praise. I am truly blessed to call this congregation family and I look forward to raising my son and my future children in this family.

I am quite wordy tonight aren't I? Sorry, but blame my mom- she's the one who said I had to read Ephesians before I went to bed. She said I had to read Revelations as well about the seven angels so I guess I will go do that know and maybe find a basis for a post tomorrow. ;-) God Bless all who are reading this, but before I go...

The Blessing: I had to save this one for tonight as I want to ask for specific prayers for this person as she is returning to work for the first time in 4 months. This person, is my mom, Sandy. She has been known recently as a Franny's widow after his very sudden passing. She is obviously more than that, so for those who do not know her well yet, let me tell you who I believe she is. My mom is extraordinary! She is beautiful, smart, loving, devoted, caring, family centered, compassionate, knowledgeable, encouraging, courageous, willing, serving, helpful, and passionate. She is a loving wife, a wonderful mother and a marvelous gran-mom...not to mention a sensational cook! I can not come up with enough words to encompass my mother. She has been my rock for so many years and my best friend for all of my life. She is my son's favorite person (I'm not joking- you should see his face when he sees her!) and he loves her so much! I would be lucky to call her a friend, honored to call her family, but BLESSED by reasonable imagination to call her Mommy....which at the age of 25 I still do! I love you mommy and thank you for being you. I am so fortunate to be on this journey called life, and now Christian life, with you! <3>