HOLA! All things work together for good...15

[Committed2Him]

Hopefully it will be close enough that you can get there when she calls, and she will call! They always do........

No she's not sure where but she wants to go away. As for who she calls? I can only hope it's me.

So....Why are you praying especially hard for me.....what do you know?

half joking, just praying, we can all benefit from having someone pray for us.

Karen, thanks for the echo of agreement and the smile.

So, I was exhausted, fell asleep and then woke up moments ago, not good.

Sunday was good but also disappointing. Both kids flaked out about going to church, wouldn't have happened if they lived with me. Daughter was tired, son spilled milk and apparently got in trouble with his moma and was cleaning it up. So another opportunity to not dwell in negativity.

GREAT, GREAT message on Hope at service today. Also touched on tribulation producing, perseverance, producing character, producing hope

From Romans 5:3-5

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Two years ago, I went to a men's retreat and my pastor taught on this subject. He gave a message that was very much like today's message, that the trials and tribulations strengthen our faith becauese when we have no where else to go, yet we hang on to God and then see him come through It strengthens our faith and directly from that, hope also arises.

Today he talked about his wife's battle with brain cancer and what they went through (she is in remission). He is a very real from the pulpit and he shared how devastated they were when they got the news and that it took him 5 days to even reach out to God and start talking to Him. He shared how He heard and sensed God telling him, "why don't you live what you preach?"

This is the same pastor who the doctors told him his child would be born with a disease and that he should abort it (the gender was unknown at the time of the diagnosis). Well, he was a pastor at the time and he DID NOT abort the child who has become a perfectly healthy 14 year old girl.

The message I heard two years ago was one I would listen to and believe, by faith, for my future. The message I heard today was one I have experienced over the last two years and nodded my head to and thought, "yep that is what I have been living through and yes, I do have hope and know that God comes through time and time again!"

Indeed it was a GREAT message.

Since I did not have my kids, I went to take care of an errand to get my slow leaking tire fixed, free at cosco where I bought the tire but it took 3 hours, plenty of time to read a book I have been wanting to read for a long time.

Spanish Bible search and unexpected blessing
I have been looking for a bilingual bible and traveled to the bookstore of one of my favorite churches but surprisingly, they did not have one in stock but special ordered several so I could have several to choose from when they come in. Having driven 30 miles one way, I decided to shop. I was so blessed to find an audio MP3 bible in Spanish (it also had and English Spanish bilingual bible in CD format) I still want a hard copy bible but now I have the audio version for my drive time. I was VERY pleased about my find and even happier that it cost me $1.35. I was also able to buy this pastor's MP3 teaching on the entire bible $1.50 and my pastor's pastor's teachings on the entire bible (including 2000 sermon notes and 100 other "Best of Messages") in MP3 format as well for only $5.00.

To top it all off, while there, I was able to buy bracelet and a precious birthday card for my daughter's 17th birthday this Tuesday (the other gift is a shopping certificate redeemable with me only). I left the store a happy camper and headed to a church pot luck.

Hanging out with my sister
The evening was wonderful in every possible way. My sister has been attending church for the last 4 months and decided to show up as well which was special to me. She started going to church after it first got started, over 14 years ago. She stopped going but started going again after her son started going with me on Sunday mornings. 14 years of prayers finally paid off.

So it was a good chance for me to introduce her to many of my friends as well as a great opportunity to see some people I don't get to see as often as I use to when the church was much smaller. Truly it was a wonder cap to a glorious weekend but now, I should rest, I am going to be beat tomorrow.

p.s. this was a mega post because I decided to load the MP3 bible to my pc, just preparing my self for Spain, 5 more months to go!