God's timing!

God's timing!

Geez that must be one of the hardest things I have to do...wait on His timing!   I want to decide it all.  We can plan our future but the Lord decides our steps!  I have been very busy with work, kids, Christmas, and day to day life but in the midst of it all , I do have to seek Him for advice, for guidance, and for strength! 

We've had a year full of blessings!  We moved from our FEMA trailer in April to a one bedroom apt and then back into our home a few months ago.  Phew that's tiring but such a BLESSING!  YAY!   We are still in the rebuilding of our lives process since Katrina and still rebuilding our home, still many uncertainties BUT one thing is certain....The Lord is our provider, our healer, our rock and our refuge!  There is nothing too big for Him...There is nothing too minor to Him either.  He knows our hearts and He knows our needs but we need to seek Him and trust Him and at all times thank Him for all He does and His unfailing love.

I pray that right now we can all stop and remember that our lives are in His hands.  We need to honor Him and obey Him and sow seeds of righteousness...we shall reap abudantly!  Woo Hoo! We also need to remember that all of this worry, control, and struggles we are dealing with are hands of the enemy on us.  The enemy tries to keep us miserable and fearful BUT the Lord gives us peace!! Waiting on His timing is hard! (trust me, I know!) but His way is always perfect!  I've said it before but I live a life of purity so learning to be patient is a biggie for me...However, pleasing Him is more important than pleasing me..so I'll be a lady in waiting on His timing,  Don't know how long I'll have to wait for marriage but I do know this,  Being that it's His timing, It'll be well worth the wait! 

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."
(Proverbs 16:9)

Love you...Your sister in Christ....Shawna  <><

New again....

Have you ever thought of what Jesus went through?  He died for YOU and ME!  I think back at all the years I never even thought about it.  I just went on with my life,...day to day..without ever even realizing that He was there for me.  That He wanted me to seek Him...He LOVES us sooo much and would never leave us!  Then why is that we can go without giving Him praise for all of His glory?  Why is that we want to continue to do things that are displeasing to Him?

I have been saved!  My past has been wiped away!  Praise God for His glory and mercy!  We need to keep in mind that He knows our thoughts!  He's held our tears!  He knows the numbers of hairs on your head!  He carries our burdens!  He gives us strength!  I know that I WANT to please Him!!  This video has touched me so much.  It shows how much He loves me (and YOU)..He died for me...(and YOU!)

Enemy can blind a righteous man

Hey!  I wanted to say that I really miss yall.  I have been soooo busy but I wanted to stop and give you something to think about.  Are you playing on the Devil's playground?  

Devil's Playground

Have you been to the devil's playground?
It is a very easy place to find
You never have to travel far
Since his playground is the mind
He is the great deceiver
His motives are all lies
His promises are many
And he ruins people's lives

He's a mighty, yet defeated foe
But we all must make a stand
And never take for granted
That he can blind a righteous man
I have seen him tell his stories
I have listened to his lies
I have seen him humble preachers
As he destroys peoples lives

Take heed my friend and listen
His lies will make you blind
He promises you a rainbow
But death is what you'll find
He's a mighty, yet defeated foe
It is time to take a stand
But never take for granted
That he can blind a righteous man!!

Please do not let the Devil lead you down a path of destruction.  Keep your focus on the Lord.  He's here for all of us.  I know when I get down a bit and lose my focus on His word..I can feel the enemy pulling me down even further.  It's rough but the Lord never leaves us.  Keep your eyes on Him.  If I didn't put on the armor of God every morning...I'd be at the bottom of the pit right now STUCK!  Trust me, I know, I was there before...But I KNOW the tools to keep myself pure and obedient  and I KNOW that the enemy is constantly waiting for me to slip. 

"When you go through deep water and great trouble. I will be with you." Isaiah 43:2

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you not harm you, to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Don't believe the enemy...The Lord has great plans for us!  We need to TRUST and BELIEVE that.  Christ has proven trustworthy!  He's coming back and we need to be ready!

Love you...Your sister in Christ!!

Lady in Waiting

My life as a single Christian woman is quite interesting so I thought I'd share.  For one thing, there is a shortage of Christian men that are single in their 30's and 40's.  So that right there causes a big problem in trying to date a Christian man.   I know many men in their 30's and 40's but most are married...I also know many men in their 30's and 40's that are single BUT they are not Christians...UGH!  I look around at Church, at events, at Christian book stores, or anywhere really and wonder....Where are the single men my age?  Don't get me wrong...I'm not desperately looking for a husband but I do know that God will have to work on this one on His own.  LOL

I have tried the whole online dating which is quite busy for non Christians...but once you get on a Christian dating site..it's almost impossible to find someone in your area or in your state for that matter.  LOL   As you can see my chances are slimming down even more.  I have many friends that have friends that are sooooooo nice!  (famous words!) then I meet them and we are not on the same page...heck not even in the same book!  They drink, party, cuss, and so on so do you really think they'd wait til marriage for sex?   UH Nah!!!  LOL  or I get the other extreme, they are ON FIRE for the Lord!!  Their walk is strong...but they don't want to date me...Why?  well, because I have tattoos, because I've had sex before,  because I was married twice and because I already have children.... SIGH!!!!!!!!!!! 

Sooooooo where do I fit in?  I do not want a worldly man.  I want a Christian!  I'm not a virgin yet I am waiting til marriage..LOL  I don't want to date a 21 year old  or a 51 year old...so I am limited here.   What's a girl to do?????    I know what I have to do....I have to wait on the Lord to send me that one He's been preparing for me ( FOR A LONG TIME TOO!!!) LOL   and know that like I have said before...I am not trying to find the right man..I want to be the right woman!!  and that developing patience is hard but getting married before God's timing is even worse!

Lady in Waiting,

Shawna   <><

My tree

Hey!!  I was busy all weekend but I figured I'd update everyone on my life.

MY TREE IS FINALLY DOWN!! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY!  WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!  This tree has been leaning on my home since Katrina.  I've been praying that it wouldn't fall.  I took this picture last week and today it is DOWN!  and NOT on my home!  PRAISE GOD!!!!!!

Friday night my son went to his FIRST DANCE!  Awwww he was so cute.  He had a date, his girlfriend who is a cheerleader at his Junior High.  It was sooooo exciting and heartbreaking at the same time!

I am totally moved into our home although there is not one room that is complete yet.  It'll take me about one more year to get situated I think.  But atleast we are in it!  YAY!!

I was very very sick last week and although I felt like I was dying...I actually didn't..LOL  Thanks for all the prayers..I am healed and feeling much better.  Praise God!  Yippie!!

I'm excited about NEXT weekend for many reasons..

ONE- My baby, youngest child, caboose, will turn 9!!  Oh my I'm old.  I will now have a 9, 11 and 16 year old!   Yep, I have gray hair already!

TWO- I am going to Hattiesburg to see THIRD DAY!!   I'm E X C I T E D!!!!   I can't wait!   They are soooooo talented!  Can you tell I'm excited about going???  I'm staying in a hotel in Hattiesburg so that I don't have to drive back late at night. 

THEN.........

The next day I'm going to see Chris Tomlin and the proceeds to this concert go to keeping our Christian radio station on the air!!   WOO HOO!!!  How great is our God???  I'm  not just saying that because Chris Tomlin sings it..LOL  

I'll have many more updates!!

Praising Him,      Shawna

What are you doing?

The Lord really spoke to me alot today about being a Christian.   Christ-Like!  He told me that although we live in a world of sin that He uses us (Christians) to help lead the worldly people to Him.  If God didn't use people to help save others then there just may be a good possibility that WE wouldn't be where we are today. 

What are you doing?   Are you an active Christian?  I know for me,  I have to stay in His word for me to stay obedient but I also have to share my testimony and my walk with Him with others because it also helps me grow.  Praise God!!!!!

Let's step up and  get in the world!!  Reach out to others!!! Shout the truth and bring light into a dark world!!  

He has called us to be witnesses!!!!   Do you preach His word but then act in a different manner when others aren't watching?  HE does know your heart and sees your actions even when others don't!! 

So What are YOU doing?????     Much love to you ALL

Your sister in Christ  <><

Living for Him

Wow! It seems like forever since I've written but soooo glad and relieved to be on here doing this.  I do not have internet yet at home but praying to have it soon so I can do my ministry work!!  I'll write later about what's going on in my life but I want to say THANK YOU for all of the encouraging emails and awesome comments.  God is GOOD! He has given me such wonderful Christian friends!  Praise Him for that! 

I have had many people ask...How do I stay soooo strong during all of this???   Well, I am not a superwoman with all kinds of extra powers or something...LOL  I trust in the Lord!  He's my rock, My strength, my EVERYTHING!  I get down like we all do but I continue to praise Him for all He has done.  He has saved me!!!!  How can I let everything else around me get to me when I KNOW that I have eternity with Him.  This is only temporary!!  Don't get so wrapped up in your day to day life that you push Him away....The LORD is FIRST and the MOST important one to be focused on...and He loves you soooooo much!  My friend just wrote today about being ready for Jesus when He returns....Are you?   I am!!   I can't wait to see His precious face...HOWEVER until that glorious day comes... I PRAY!!!!!!!!

How do you pray?  I have always wondered if I say the right things?  Do I sound silly?  Why don't I sound like some of the people at church?  Do you ever think that too?   Well,  I may not sound like the pastor's wife but I do know one thing for sure.  He LOVES to hear my voice..He is the ONLY one that appreciates my singing  LOL  But He gets so excited that I give Him sooo much attention everyday (kinda like my puppy Koby does when I get home! )  THAT is why our relationship is soooo strong.  I am in LOVE with Him and my walk is the MOST important thing...Going out of my way daily to please Him.   I pray with a purpose!!!  Woo Hoo!

This is the reason why I stay strong during these storms in my life!!   I adore Him!  and, I PRAY!

Praise Him for all He does....Ask the Lord for the desires of your heart...Confess your sins or your struggles...and Trust that He's there with you!!

Your sister in Christ,