YAY Praise Report!

Praise Jesus Christ! God is awesome! Well, all the time, but specifically, I have a reason for such praise...my husband got a job! This was such a cool story. Ok, so, Chad's in flight school and he quit his job in February/March so that he could go to flight school full time. When we met with the school orginally, they told us that it was feasable to expect that Chad would be done in 9 months if he didn't have a job. What they forget to mention was also, if he didn't have a wife or a child, or go to church, and if he lived at school and always had the perfect weather to be able to fly every second as well.

So, we're in month 8 of flight school and we're definatley not seeing that 9 month prophacy come to pass. Since we planned for this, financially, we've realized that we need to look for a job. Chad has had like 4 interviews and put in like a million applications for a part time position since the beginning of November, even ridiculous things like the gas station up the street....we were desperate for anything! He got the run around from lots of places that said, "Everything looks great! We'll call you tomorrow and let you know!" (with no call ever....What happened to integrity?!)

Anyway, all that to say that he's been talking with the owner of his school, Irv, for a couple of weeks now about working at his RV storage place. Irv kept saying, "Call me and we'll schedule something for you to come in and talk." Well, after phone tag and Irv's goose hunting, Chad finally went in on Monday to see what could be set up. Pretty soon, Chad's shoveling snow and getting a schedule for the rest of the week! Isn't that awesome?! Praise God!

Yesterday was his second day and he came home so happy. I could just tell that he was tired and worn out, but he felt accomplished in it. It was good! He went right to sleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. And he tried to even use the excuse for not doing the dishes! (It didn't work, by the way ;-)

This morning I took a call on the prayer line for a woman with a job need. She explained how she had tried and tried to get a job at a temp agency and never receieved anything, with anger in her voice. I tried to encourage her with, "Well, that must mean that God has something else for you."

She didn't want to believe that and responded, "No He doesn't! I needed those jobs!" Of course I knew that this wasn't true and began to pray for the words to speak. The Holy Spirit began to move and she said, "I'm sorry. I guess He does, I just really need a job now."

I began to pray for her and I know that God heard it and will meet her and exceed all of her expectations, if not for her benefit, but to prove Himself "faithful even when we are faithless bc He can not deny Himself!" (2Tim. 2:13) I could feel this woman's pain, discouragement, and hopelessness and I knew that God was touching me through all that too. The lesson ended up being more for me than her, I imagine.

God, THANK YOU! Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you that you meet my needs according to your glorious riches, perfect timing, and perfect ways. You are more than I can think, ask, or imagine. I am sorry if I doubted any of your ways. I am sorry if I doubted your perfect love. I am sorry if I didn't believe that you were working for my benefit. Thank you for your forgiveness, mercy, and endless love! Thank you for Chad's job and I ask that you bless it. I pray that you cover him and allow his giftings, talents, and abilites to shine for your glory! We love you Lord and give you all the glory and praise! Amen.

My Christmas dilemna!

Well, well, well...there are only 11 days left until Christmas! Are you ready? Everyone asks that, do you hear that question alot? How are you even supposed to answer? Do they mean, "Do you have all your presents?" or "Are you done wrapping?" or what? What I really think it is, is the filler question! What I mean by that is, ya know....the social question to fill the time. Who knows what I mean? Another example of this is the famous, "Hey! How are you?" but walking away before they answer. Or the "Hey, how's it going?" Instead of the normal, "Hello!" greeting. Or maybe the "ready" question is just a secret status update...like, "Did you get a present for everyone yet, bc I want someone else to tell me that they aren't done so I'm not the only fool not done!"

Either way, I think in all of these aspects of whatever the real meaning of this posed question, I'm not ready. I don't have everyone done, and I really don't think I'm going to get everyone done, and to be honest, I'm not that ok with it. I have a couple of people done and that's probably all I need. Of course, if I had a million dollars, I could think of 9 other people to get presents for, but I think that this year, I'm drawing the line.

This is the first for me, to be this confined in my giving. I am dealing with that. I know that might sound weird, but I used to get this and that for so and so and then get another present for them from Caleb, but this year's different AND I refuse to go into debt just to be a people pleaser. I am being delivered from this mentality and this is just a tiny step Jesus in taking me in so that my mind can be renewed and I can be set free. Anyway, I think there are alot of us "People Pleasers" in the world. I know my house is full of them. I married one and we are trying to keep our son protected from learning it, but already you can see the signs in him.

Here are only 3 ways to find out if you fall into this "People Pleasing" category:

• ARE YOU COMPLETELY HONEST WITH OTHERS?
• DO YOU DO THINGS OUT OF DUTY VS. DESIRE?
• ARE YOU CONSTANTLY SACRIFICING YOUR OWN LEGITIMATE NEEDS?

Well, my answers are "no, most of the time duty, yes and then getting bitter with the person or thing that I am helping." I'm a total people pleaser. God is helping me. Anyway, Christmas is just one area that God is using to deliver me. I appreciate that, but it really sucks, just to be honest with you. I know for a fact that people are getting me gifts that I can not get gifts for in return and I know that this is not the purpose for Christmas anyway, but in my own warped mind, that's always been the way that it is. I also know that I am going to hate being completely uncomfortable opening and taking these gifts knowing all this. I hate that awkwardness! Anyway, this is the post today...am I alone? Any thoughts to share?

I have to stop . . .

Well, I have decided that my addiction to CNN.com needs to come to an end. It's totally affecting me. I'm getting totally freaked out at home. I'm even more scared of the dark and wondering if an unidentified black clad gunman is going to break into my house and kill me with an assault riffle.

Yesterday morning, my alarm went off. Usually, at this time, I snooze at least once. (It's not easy getting up at 3am.) But, oh not this day....this particular morning I smelled coffee as soon as I woke up....COFFEE?! So, I'm thinkin, "Why do I smell coffee? I did NOT set the timer until 4:30! Who in the world is out there messing with my coffee pot?! They must be real sickos to try to lure me out there with coffee so they can rape and pillage my body before the shoot me in the head!"

So, I roll over slowly and quietly, as not to make any creaking bed noises. I lean over towards my warm, sleepy husband and whisper, "Honey! Do you smell coffee?! I didn't set the alarm until 4:30! Somethings wrong!" He's kinda non-responsive to my life threatening emergency, so I tip toe to the bathroom to put my robe on and get my glasses, so I can quickly identify the perpetrator's face in case Jesus mercifully saves my life after my near-fatal head shooting.

I open the door as silent as possible and wait to see if I hear anything. I'm waiting for the man to jump out and grab me or to see if maybe he's waiting in the living room and I can hear heavy breathing. I slowly and carefully walk my fingers up the wall to turn on the hall light. I look both ways to see if he's right outside the door frame. I see nothing, so I proceed down the hall. I come to the bathroom door. I stop and wait again. I lean on the opposite wall and peer inside the dark room so see if his figure is looming nearby. I see nothing, so I move across the hall to look past the corner down the stairs to see if that's his hiding place. Nothing again. Next I stretch over to make sure that he's not trying to crouch down behind the counter. Again nothing. Nothing in the living room. Nothing in the kitchen.

So...who messed with my freakin' coffee maker?!

I walk over to the small appliance to make sure that I am not crazy and that I DID set it for 4:30am only to discover that the clock read over 2 hours fast! So, all that to say I'm a paranoid freak and that I did set it for 4:30am and that indeed my house was safe and free from any coffee criminal masterminds. The more and more I thought about it, the more and more I thought, "I'm ridiculous! Who in the world would try to beckon me out in the kitchen with coffee only to shoot me in the face when if they were really that twisted anyway, they could have just shot me and my family while we slept helplessly in our bed?!"

To top it all off, I have never had so many bed dreams in my life then when I started to CNN.com. The whole reason that I stopped watching the news was because it was depressing and sad. I got sucked into CNN.com bc my friend directed me to a news story featuring a 22 lbs newborn in South America. It was over then! I thought, "Ok, well, this way, I can still read the news and only pick the stories that I want to read." Next thing I know, I'm reading about a serial killer pig farmer from Canada wondering how in the world someone can be so full of the devil.

I wish there was a news cast where all they did was give praise reports. At work, we get monthly emails about how people received prayer from someone at the ministry and called back or wrote back and said how God answered it. We should have something like that instead. Anyway, maybe I'll post some of those instead. So, I can't read CNN.com anymore. Pray for deliverance for me in the mean time.

~Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.~

Wait -

1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often fol. by for, till, or until): "to wait for the bus to arrive."

2. (of things) to be available or in readiness: "A letter is waiting for you."

3. to remain neglected for a time: "a matter that can wait."

4. to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed: "We waited a week and then bought the house. Your vacation will have to wait until next month."

5. to look forward to eagerly: "I'm just waiting for the day somebody knocks him down."

6. to continue as one is in expectation of; await: "to wait one's turn at a telephone booth."

7. to postpone or delay in expectation: "Don't wait supper for me."

8. to be in readiness for; be reserved for; await: "Glory waits thee."

9. to attend upon or escort, esp. as a sign of respect

10. an act or instance of waiting or awaiting; delay; halt: "a wait at the border."

11. a period or interval of waiting: "There will be a long wait between trains."

12. wait on, (a) to perform the duties of an attendant or servant for, (b) to supply the wants of a person, as serving a meal or serving a customer in a store, (c) to call upon or visit (a person, esp. a superior): "to wait on Her Majesty at the palace. "

13. wait up, (a) to postpone going to bed to await someone's arrival. (b) to halt and wait for another to join one, as in running or walking: "Wait up, I can't walk so fast."


I suppose that everyone is waiting for something…”breakthrough” I guess. I really hate that word. People call in for prayer all the time and say, “I need a breakthrough!”

I usually follow with, “Breakthrough for what?!” I don’t want to sound uncompassionate or heartless, but that phrase is so overused and most of the time, by people that don’t mean “breakthrough” but “hand out.” Even myself! I find myself in a season of waiting for a “breakthrough” but really…why should I believe that I deserve anything! Christine Cain said once, “…what we really deserve is eternal damnation!” How true! Who am I that I should expect anything from the Lord based on what I DESERVE?!

I’ve been thinking about what it is that keeps us in wait. Maybe it’s disobedience. Maybe it’s a lesson from God. Maybe we are not ready for what we are waiting on and in the end, it will be a stumbling block for us instead of a blessing. Maybe we don’t know how to pray for it. Maybe God’s working behind the scenes the whole time! I find that usually it’s the last one.

This past week at church, Pr. Shawn taught on expectation/hope. It was a wonderful teaching. Just researching the God of hope, you find SO many verses where the Lord is trying to teach us to have hope in HIM through waiting. In the Amplified version, Psalms 42 and 43 teach us to wait expectantly, nonetheless! Isaiah 30 gives a blessing to those that wait on the Lord. Hosea 12 teaches us to wait in Him always! And the list continues . . . Here’s just a few . . . my favorite is the last . . .

Psalm 25:5
“…you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

Rom 5:5
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Psa 42:11
“Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Isa 30:18
“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Psa 62:5
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.”

Rom 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Psa 38:15
“I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God."

Jud 1:21
“Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

Mic 7:7
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

Does God Use Cracked Pots?

by Joyce Meyer


Do you have joy in your life every single day? This is God's will for you, and He has provided the keys that will bring happiness, contentment and joy regardless of your circumstances.


Are you convinced that your particular circumstances make happiness and enjoyment impossible for you? Well, it’s not true! The keys that God offers you are designed to open doors that you may have thought were locked forever.


Learning to be happy with yourself is a very important key to enjoying your life. If you know that God wants you to enjoy life, why does it sometimes seem impossible? Could it be that you’re unhappy with yourself because you're not perfect? God doesn't require us to be perfect—He made us, and He knows we’re human and will make mistakes. Our job is to get up every day and do our best to use the keys He has provided for us. And when we fail, we must get right with God, receive His forgiveness and go on. We need to quit being so hard on ourselves and enjoy our lives right where we are.


Many people feel that God can't use them because they’re not perfect—this is a lie. God (the Potter) uses cracked pots (that's us) to do His work. As Christians, we are containers that God wants to fill with His goodness and light. Then we’re to carry that goodness and light to a dark world, sharing it with people everywhere we go. Don't be afraid of your flaws; acknowledge them and allow God to use you anyway. Quit worrying about what you're not and give God what you are.


I once read a story that beautifully illustrates the value of cracked pots:
A water bearer in India had two large pots hanging at the ends of a pole that he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house. The other pot had a crack in it, and by the time it reached its destination, it was only half full. Every day for two years the water bearer delivered only one and one-half pots of water to the master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments—perfect to the end for which it was made. The poor little cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfections and miserable that it could accomplish only half of what it had been designed to do. After two years of what the imperfect pot perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer and said, "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer, "What are you ashamed of?"

"Well, for these past two years, I have been able to deliver only half a load of water each day because this crack in my side allows water to leak out all the way back to the master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work without getting the full value of your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot noticed the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because half of its load had leaked out once again.
Then the bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path and not on the other pot's side? That's because I've always known about your flaw and took advantage of it by planting flower seeds on your side of the path. Every day as we walked back from the stream, you watered those seeds, and for two years I have picked these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just what you are, he would not have had this beauty to grace his house."


Like that cracked pot, you too can accomplish wonderful things. You can make somebody happy. You can encourage, edify and exhort those around you. You can use your gifts and talents to serve God—and as a bonus, you’ll learn to have joy in every area of your life.