Encouragement For You & Me

"Encourage and Strengthen Him." Dueteronomy 3:28 This is what was one of my focuses this evening as I read this devotional. It is part two of "Be a 'builder-upper!'" God knew Joshua needed all the help he could get when lead the Israelites. He sent his mentor, Moses, to encourage and strengthen him!

God knows we each need help and He has put people in our lives to encourage and strengthen us! I am an encourager by nature. Lately, probably not so much to some and especially myself! I find there are some that it is easy to encourage and others, no matter what is said, well, bah humbug! I don't want to be in this intrapment of negativity!

Lately, I have been in the pit of uke and have been sorta kinda ignoring what God wanted to show me! I didn't realize that I was ignoring Him until about two days ago when I had a rude awaking! I realized that God was speaking into the depts of my inner most being! I sure needed to be encouraged at that moment and Daddy did!

Then, this eveing I ran across this devotional on encouragement. It states, "Everybody needs encouragement, including you! You need others to cheer you on when you've been battered by setbacks and circumstances. Correction does much, but encouragement does much more. It rekindles your spirit and gives you the oomph to keep going. Nothing can uplift more than the encouragement of a friend or loved one. It's the oxygen of the soul. Having run two miles, a person may need to pause and catch his or her breath before running another two. Before facing a formidable task, or even the wearying routines of life, a person needs to pause for encouragement before tackling the work ahead. So become oxygen to the souls of those around you. Strengthen them to persevere for the Kingdom. Encourage them with God's promise to work good in all things. Stop and think about somebody who could use a little encouragement, and before today is over, make it a point to get in touch with them."

"Let us pursue the things...by which one may edify (build up) another." Romans 14:19

I know a lot of people who need encouraged each step they take! I want to encourage you as you read this! You,_________, are loved and held up in His love and care today! You,___________, are not ever alone! You,_________, are watched over and sang over! You, __________, are in my prayers! I want to encourage you, I love and pray for you!

Until then, be blessed by God's best!!!

I Don't Believe in Good-Byes

After much prayer and thought and talks and tugging-of-hearts, I have decided to move on and leave the Baldwin Household. This has got to be, if not the hardest, the next thing to the hardest thing I have done. I am so pulled in many different directions and feel horrible for moving-on! I am so torn over leaving Jack and Lynda, I feel sick and have a nasty of nasty headaches!!!

I deal with guilt and I know that this is not because of Lynda's words!!! There comes a time when we have to go on with our lives! I knew this time would come, but I didn't know it would be like this!

I am so blessed by Jack and Lynda! It is in the small things and in the big things! I am not sure where I will work, where I will live, but God is bigger than it all!!!

I got used to having internet and being able to submit homework at 12 a.m. and then get up at 6 a.m with crusty eyes! I loved the baths, hot water, laundary facilities, home-cooked Lyndee meals, her prayers at all hours of day and night. Lynda has been more of a mom to me than my own. True she didn't bring me into the world, but, in the three years that I have known her, she has spoken into my life more than my own mom. I have more support here than anywhere else. I cannot say "Thank You" enough to this woman that God has in my life!

I will never say "Good Bye" to Jack and Lynda, but it sure feel like a part of me is dying! May sound dumb, but I am so torn up!

I am such a sofety sometimes and sentimental and mushy! I pray blessings on Jack and Lynda, in the Name of Jesus Christ! I repect them and love them beyond words and any actions that I could do to try to show them! I have a special place in my heart for this couple, like I have never had for anyone else!

Lynda, thank you for all you have done, all you are doing, and all that you continue to do! I am now an avid reader! I have read two, almost three books, within a month! Unheard of for those who have known me for any length of time!

I am not sure, but it may be a spell before I am able to Blog again!

Blessings!!!

An Oppurtunity

I lost my source of income today and at first it was like a hit in the gutt! Then, I remembered back when I was actually fired from the hospital I was working at! I wasn't fired this time. The money ran out for the work study program!

I am looking at this as an oppurtunity and not a let-down! I started looking for work for the summer last week. Funny how things work out for God's glory. After tour hours of phone calls, I ended up with what is not available. That means what is available is ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am excited to see what God has in store for the future! I am off this weekend to spend time with a friend a couple hours away! We have a wonderful time and the time just seems to run away from us! Maybe bowling and some hockey! Yeehaw!!!

A Big WELCOME to Jamie and Jessie as they are visiting us here in the freezer zone from Nashville!!! I am excited to them Sunday! Yah! I am excited for their Mom, especially and of course, Dad too!!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

I want to say to all that I hope today is the beginning of many new friendships and blessed relationships repaired! I pray blessings on all you who I know and those I don't yet know!

Do you ever feel like you are being talked about, gossiped about, and/or just the only topic on people's conversation list? Why is that? Guilty complex? Worry and self-doubt? Or is it the truth? Are you being talked about and prayed for and at the top of discussion for people?

I think we all feel this way from time to time! I pray you are well-talked about and built up, not tore down and misunderstood! I pray that when you are thought of and spoken of, that it is with gentleness and compassion, not slander and misunderstanding!

Blessings on this day of love, love, and more love!!!

Keep Pluggin' Away!

I am looking forward to spring and summer! I have never felt the smallness of winter until this winter! I have always enjoyed being inside during winter and just snuggling down at night and even during the day, I would take a nap! Now, I am on the go seemingly all the time!

School is going well! Lots of homework and another to start at the end of February and it is a two-weekender! Then another class starts right after that one ends! I will need to get another job for the summer. I pray that the job at the library doesn't end before the semester does! I have it good at this work-study job! I get paid to organize books, help students with whatever they need, and my own homework or projects I bring in! As long as I am open and am at work, things are good! I like to help other students with their homework and seeing them smile. Recently, I have had this one student who likes to pick a fight and I was ready! I didn't do anything I shouldn't have!The funny part was when the custodian came in and began praising me in front of the student. He followed her out into the lobby and proceeded to tell her that the whole thing about me keeping him in line with the posted rules was gender-bias! Okay!

I am plugging away with life, school, relationships, and relationship with Jesus Christ! I know that God has a plan for my life and He is faithful! I am blessed!

Reflection Of What I Am Grateful For!!!

I have been focusing on God as I am going through the hard stuff! I know that as my focus stays on Him, I can go through anything! He is faithful to me and never leaves me nor forsakes me! I have had my focus on other objects that have lead me to believe oppisite of what God promises! I am repentant today and know that I need spiritual fasting, such as, no things that give me true, but false pleasure, if you will!

I left church a changed woman today! I had my focus on God and His will that I know He has called me to! I am joyful in a quiet manner, but do have joy in my heart! I am grateful, through it all, for Pam staying here! She is a woman in need of love and support, like myself! She needs acceptance, like myself! Pam is a support and part of the body of Christ! We are called to be there for one another, no matter how comfortable or uncomfortable it may be for us!

What would you do if your friend had to leave like yesterday and had no place to go! I have my defense up so often as I am on protective-mode! I am laying it down and know God is my protector and lover! I need no man or woman to survive, just love and affection! People in the body of Christ are am encouragement for life!

I am grateful today for the situation I am in! I love each of you very much and pray blessings on each of you!

Now, off to work-out! Yes!! Finally, first time in over a week! Isn't life great?!?!?