Giving Thanks To Him (Day 6)

Today I just want to say a bit of thanks for a sense of humor. Because there are some days you couldn't make it through without laughing. I really think that most of us take life too seriously sometimes....it really is ok to laugh and have fun. God didn't intend for us to go through life all solemn and quiet forever....otherwise He wouldn't have made this....

If that doesn't make you giggle...nothing will!!!

A Thankful Heart (Day 5)

I have to say today I am soooo super thankful for my church family at Breakthrough. I love our church!! I can't even explain it. God is always there....you can feel it in the air. There is such an atmosphere of praise and worship in that house, He always shows up! In fact we don't ask for His visitation, we ask for habitation!! We have come so far in so short of a time, it can only be God.

Each and every week we learn something practical and useless from Pastor Nate. God lays a word on his heart every service that is always just on time.

I don't know what I want do without the wonderfully powerful women of God that I have encountered through Breakthrough. There are some mighty woman at this church, let me tell ya! Things happen when these women pray...Abigail is a testament to that one!!

When we first moved here, we had bounced from church to church looking for the right fit. My husband read an article in the local paper about a new church and suggested we give it a try. I remember I called Pastor Nate to see if they had things for the kids since they were new, of course they did! We went one Wednesday night to try it out. Tyler asked me on the way there "momma, how will we know if this is the one?" I told her, if it was right, we would feel it in our hearts. After the first service, I knew without a doubt that was where we were supposed to be. I almost joined the first night, but I wanted to see what the kids thought. We got in the car to leave, and everyone was quiet. Then Tyler beams and says "You were right momma. I did feel it. They treated me like I had always been there. I love it there." And so started our journey with the Breakthrough family.

I love all of you more than you can imagine!!

P.S. If you don't have a church family to love on you....come give us a try. Check us out at www.breakthroughwoc.org. You will leave changed!

A Thankful Heart (Day 4)

Today I have decided to be thankful for a new found love. This season I absolutely adore scarves for some reason. I think they are the coolest thing ever all of a sudden. So far I have bought 3, and my momma bought me one this weekend too.

I don't have any idea where this new appreciation came from...but I am enthralled with them. I guess I have always loved accessories but can never really find jewelry that I like, so this is a good alternative. And you can wear them so many different ways. Plus for me...it makes me feel a little more covered up, and snuggled up...which I like. It has become so acceptable to let everything you have hang out all over the place...that is so NOT my style.

Anyways....I am thankful for my new wonderful accessory!! So if anyone wants to buy me something very simple that will light up my day....it should be a scarf!!

A thankful heart (Day 3)

This morning when I woke up I decided today's thing to be thankful for would be a silly one....and I even had one all picked up....but then it changed.


This post by be short, but I will tell you I am so thankful for this today I can't even explain.
This is huge for me right now!!

I am thankful for the ability to listen. To slow down and REALLY listen to someone.

First and foremost, to be able to stop and listen to what God has to tell me. I am so excited to be hearing from my God. To know that He truly is telling me something everyday. I just have to choose to stop and listen.

And secondly today....I am excited, that with God's help, I am able to stop my mouth from running all the time and really listen to my husband. To understand where he came from, and why he is the way he is, and hear how he feels, even if sometimes he doesn't say a word.

Today....I am going to try with everything in me to listen more, and talk less. And then I will try again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day....eventually it will become a part of me.

What are you thankful for ??

Giving Thanks Day 2

I was sitting thinking about this idea last night, wondering what I would come up with each day that I was thankful for. Would they be serious everyday, or would they be trivial....would it be touching or funny....I am really excited to see where God leads me through this.

I will say that today was an easy choice though. 7 years ago this morning, my beautiful middle baby Apryl Jo was born in Florence SC. We were so excited and ready for her arrival. John's parents had come from WV to wait for her to come....they were there just sitting, and waiting, and watching me, just waiting for me to explode I think. It is funny to look back now....not so funny then.

Anyways...I am so thankful for the wonderful little girl that God is shaping her into. She's tough but loving, hard but soft at the same time. She will be the kind of girl who will never let anyone take advantage or her, or break her heart. Apryl is bad to the bone....she has already in her short little life had a broken arm and 9 stitches...and never shed a tear over either. I remember in the ER when the doctor was stitching up her chin (at age 3), she didn't move at all, or even cry. The doctor kept saying "how old is she again? I've never seen a 3 year old like this. I've been around children a long time, this child will be something one day."

AND HE IS RIGHT!!

But not because he said so but because GOD says so. He is teaching her and molding her everyday. This past year she decided to ask Jesus into her heart, and I honestly can see a difference in her. She has been so much more loving in the last few months. You used to have to beg her for a hug or a kiss....but now she wants hugs, and wants to cuddle, and wants a goodnight kiss. I see an amazing little woman growing up right before my eyes. I'm not quite ready for it yet....but I'm still in awe.

Thank you God for blessing me so much by bringing Apryl in our lives. It's an honor to say I'm her mommy!!

What am I thankful for.....

A new found friend was talking today about taking this entire holiday season and really soaking it in. Living every minute to its fullest and really taking the time to stop and appreciate it.
To stop daily and think of something that she is thankful for....whether its her relationship with Jesus all the way down to something as trivial as ziploc bags (which by the way Alice, there are great things, but those disposable ziploc containers are even better. If some "leftover" gets really disgusting in the fridge....since the container was only 75 cents, I don't even have to open it, it ALL goes in the trash. But that's beside the point.)

Anyways...back on track. She is going to take a month to be truly thankful, and to take a few moments each day to reflect on what she is thankful for. I have decided to do the same thing with my blog this month. I think its a great idea. And I encourage everyone to do it....really stop and thank God for all that He has given you or done for you.

So....for November 1st....the thing that is really on my heart today, is my wonderful hubby! God is truly (I think I am using that word too much today, but it just seems fitting every time!) anyways....God is truly showing me lately just how amazing John is, and how I can be a better wife and friend to him. If God can love me every day, no matter what I do....shouldn't I be able to do the same for my husband? If I (I almost typed truly again, but I held back) ....If I desperately want to be a reflection of God's light in the world...shouldn't I be able to start in my own home?? My answer today is a resounding YES I CAN, AND YES I WILL. But I do know that it is only with God's help. God is leading my heart to show me exactly John's worth. These past couple of days at home while he was gone gave me a new appreciation for what he does everyday. Don't get me wrong I've loved spending time with my babies, but I don't think I could do it everyday. He is a wonderful husband....and my new goal is to show him everyday how much I love and appreciate him just for who he is.


So what are you thankful for today???

A New Approach

There is so much to say about what is going on in my heart this week...but it all boils down to one thing, and one thing only.

I finally slowed down enough to listen to what God has been trying to tell me all along.

I have always prayed and prayed and prayed to hear clearly from God. To know that I know that I know that it was HIM. To have some direction that I was sure was ordained from Him.
But....then I go on with the rest of my day being the stubborn, pig headed, in charge, strong women that I have grown to become. Not that that is neccessarily a bad thing....but when you were a leader in school, a leader in music for all those years, and now you are a leader at work, and a leader of something at church....that attitude, that over the top strength starts to bleed into all parts of your life. You think you can handle it all beause I am in charge.

But bottom line...I don't want to be in charge. I want to go and do what He wants me to. Things that seem huge and impossible for me, things that I had basically given up on....He can do in the blink of an eye! HELLO....He SPOKE the world into exsistance, I think He can handle my little problems. Because in the end...they are his problems too. He wants to help me, He wants to be in control....if only I will let Him.

So this week....I know that I heard from God. Now understand, its wasn't some warm fuzzy "oh you are so amazing Libby" kind of message....He really called me out on the carpet. But it was what I needed to get a new perspective and direction on my situation. I was so concentrated on myself, and knowing that since I was a Christian, I had to be doing the right thing.

Man was I wrong....it started with me. I pushed the buttons to put the whole bad thing in motion. I couldn't beleive it. I was so ashamed, so guilty....but at the same time so excited that I finally saw it! Knowing really is half the battle. Now I can change my approach, step back and start over, push the reset button, and try again.

Isn't it amazed that God always gives us the opportunity for a do over??