The Next Adventure

I can't help but wonder what God has in store for my next adventure. Monday is the last day of my temporary assignment. Though I have some leads on new jobs I'm still in the dark just the same.

With God we are on a need to know basis. I trust with my whole heart that God has wonderful things planned for me. And he'll show me the next adventure in his time. I just wish he'd give me a sneak peek - or maybe he has and I wasn't paying attention.

So for now, I thank God for the opportunity to practice patients (which by the way is getting harder).

On to another note:

Little K received an academic letter this last semester and was inducted into The National Honors Society tonight. She has been working towards this goal for five semesters. We are so proud of her. It will be interesting to see the adventures God has planned for her senior year. 

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

I love spring

I just love the tulips.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The Spot Light

The enemy will try to get at us no matter where we are, especially in church; after all he doesn't want us worshiping God and I have let him get to me for some stupid reason for the last 2 weeks. 

B went in and found a place for us to sit today while I took care of some other business. When I came in I found him in the general area where we normally sit. (You know how we always have to sit in the same spot.  Heaven forbid if we sit in another part of the church a meet new people.  We are creatures of habit.) I sat down and looked up at the screen to realize I was right under a spot light; Ugg it's shinning right into my eyes, "Just great", I thought, "How annoying is that going to be?" To be quite honest I was very annoyed, why did he have to pick THIS spot? I didn't say anything, just sat there NOT looking at the screen – then the praise band began.

I stood up to praise and worship with the band; as I was singing I looked up towards the heavens – yes, the light was still there – yes it was still right in my eyes, but all of a sudden I had a sense of peace wash over me. The light no longer annoyed me but comforted me. It was as if the Holy Spirit was shinning down on me and reminding me that we are a congregation of ones; though there is a group of 200+ people in the congregation he loves each and every one of us. 

I couldn't help but wonder if that's what it will be like when we are praising Jesus in heaven.

 

The LORD said, "I will go with you and give you peace." Exodus 33:14

Praying

I write this post with a burdened heart.  God IS in control, but that is not stopping the heavy feeling I feel in my heart right now.  

I wouldn't call this a storm just a series of strong winds but I am praying for encouragement just the same.

In God's time the winds will dye down; for now Lord, I will just pray and lift up your name giving you all of the glory.

Yesteryear

When you drive by an abandoned house what do you think, or do you even give it a second thought?


There are three of these houses along the highway between the city I now live in and the town I grew up in.  I have passed them several times and my mind always goes back to the same questions.



  
To me these houses look sad, where are their families?  

I try to imagine what the families would be like.  What kind of blessings did God bestow on them.  What were the joys and sorrows that were shared within the walls.  


After all these houses were someones home at one time.  What were their dreams what were their failures?  What was the color of the house and how did they decorate the inside. 

My guess is that they were farmers.  The second house still has a partial barn on the land in the back.  I did notice that there is hay in the barn so it may not be original with the house.  

Both houses are close to the highway and rest right next to fields.

If walls could talk, what would they say?  If you would like to make up a memory for one of these houses I would love to post it.  Just email me at sherylk15@gmail.com

Have a great day. 

Where do you keep your cat?

This is were we keep ours.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Friday's with Jake - Oh how I LOVE Spring !

It's my favorite time of year SPRING ! ! ! And mom gets the grill out....I'm her Grilling Buddy.

I always go out and keep her company while she grills.  The smells just drive me nuts. 

Mom and I play while the food is cooking.

I love it when she throws the ball.   It's my favorite thing to play with...until I find the old mike carton.

Maddie hangs out and watches us play.  She doesn't like to play ball.  It might be because the ball is WAY to big for her to pick it up.

TJ comes and joins us for a while.  He'll sit on mom's lap for a while but then he wants to go in.  This is his "Mom, I want to go in" look.

There's a Great Dane that lives on the other side of this fence.  Mom and dad always yell at me for barking and jumping at the fence. 

I love all of the new smells.

Oh, that's where I left that.

And my milk jug again.  Hope mom throws out a new one soon, this one is getting pretty small.

What's that, I think I hear mom going inside - Time For Dinner.

See ya next week.  I am so happy, I think the old mom is back.

Job Journey Update

We went to the zoo last Saturday.  Being so early in the season a lot of the animals weren't on display yet - but the weather was beautiful.

Now that I think about it, I think I told you about the zoo in my last post but I just had to show you this picture - there are days when I know exactly how this elephant feels.  He just stood there leaning against the fence with his eyes closed.  Glad I don't have to sleep standing up.



Here's an update on the job journey.  It appears that the permanent position I left (and am now working part time at night) for a three month temporary position is going to close their doors soon.  B and I were wondering if the company wouldn't close before my temporary assignment was over. This confirms that I did make a the right decision of leaving my permanent job for a temporary - I'll be working longer this way.

Tonight at bible study (which was awesome by the way) some one asked what I did for work.  I hadn't talked about my job journey with this group yet.  I told them that in a few weeks I wasn't sure what I was going to be doing and proceeded to explain.

One of the ladies in my group told me they have two position open in her company.  She gave me her email address and told me to email my resume to her and she would turn it in as a referral - Praise the Lord.

I don't know if this will be my next step of the job journey or not, but it give me hope.

New Beginnings

What a wonderful Easter weekend, I was a little jealous (ok, a lot jealous) when B didn't have to work or Little K didn't have school on Friday and I still had to go to work, but I got over it.

Saturday B, myself, Big and Little K with a friend each went to the Henry Doorly Zoo;  I love that zoo. It has been about five years since I was last there and had forgotten how much it's expanded. They have wonderful displays and there is no way you can enjoy the entire zoo in one day. Especially if you're like me, I like to just watch the animals for a while.

I was a little disappointed that some of the animals weren't on display yet but the weather was perfect. We took lots of pictures, had lots of laughs and really enjoyed each other. We were walking up the back stretch (this is not a flat zoo) and God got my attention big time; I could no longer feel my legs, my hips were screaming, the bottom of my feet hurt, and I wasn't even sure I could take a breath. I straggled behind every one not wanting the kids to know how I was feeling. I kept thinking that surely I will reach the top of this hill soon. B was there beside me the entire time encouraging me to take a break but I didn't want to give in and this would have also gotten the attention of the kids. Tears were rolling down the side of my face, I didn't know what was going on with me and just when I thought I was going crumble we were at the top. Fortunately we were getting ready to leave and B offered to get the van and bring it to the entrance since we had to park out in the north 40 but I couldn't let him do that. Deep down inside I knew what was wrong with me and I couldn't have been more embarrassed.

How did I let myself get that far out of shape? For pete sakes I couldn't even walk up the stupid hill, I don't want to know what physical age my body is at right now. I know I need to lose about 80 pounds and I need to move my body more but really – is it that bad? God gave me a huge wakeup call – now what am I going to do with it?

It's not a coincidence that God choose this weekend to get my attention, the weekend of Easter – a starting of new. My life matters to the one who holds the whole universe in his hands. I am just a speck of dust in the big picture but yet God took the time to get my attention about my physical health because he loves me so much.

During the Easter service Pastor Michael talked about the earthquake of the resurrection and that Easter has negated all excuses – no more whining. There is not one shred of darkness that can stand to the earthquake of the resurrection, for me at this point in my life my darkness is my physical condition. Nothing is more powerful then the love of God and he is teaching me that my weight does not define me, however, if I am not taking care of myself how can He use me to further His kingdom. Michael said, "Let there be no more whining, no more excuses not to strive for the kingdom and life to the full – if God is for us who could be against us." This really hit home, it's time for me to get moving.

In Philippians 4:13 it says "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." I need to not only know that verse but I need to live it and believe it with my whole heart.

Earlier in this post I asked, what am I going to do with this wakeup call given by God? I'm going to get up and get moving, the weather is getting nicer and I am going to start with walking every day. I really don't like walking around my neighbor because, well, because it's not flat and I have to work harder - there I said it. Now that I look back at the route I take when I do walk, it's the route I need to start getting me in better shape, I'm seeing it a through different eyes now.

With God's strength I will overcome this darkness and bring it forward to the light. I will not let it hold me back any longer.

What's holding you back?


Sheryl