Every need

My mom use to sing this old song called "Every need supplied" I can't remember all the words but it went something like this :
"I asked the dear Savior, what He had purchased for me when on Calvary He died...
... And He said Every need supplied. Every need supplied. Healing, cleansing, sweet peace inside, every need supplied."
I wish I could remember all the words right now, because I've always really enjoyed that song. And the thing is (though I know it's hard to imagine if you don't have a personal relationship with Christ) but the words of the song are so very true. Even more than true, because He doesn't just stick with our 'needs'. But fulfills the desires and longings of our hearts as well. I'm amazed at His love. Because I've never seen anything close to it here on this earth. His love is wholly unconditional. He started off loving me when I was living in sin and refusing to relenquish my own will to Him. I've never had a friend I could trust like this. I can't imagine going back to a life of not leaning on Him. It's just so wonderful to have Him there for me. To listen to me whine and complain and then have His Spirit quicken some word of wisdom in my heart. There's just nothing like it. I'm so relieved to have Him.
***If you don't have a personal relationship, or feel like something is missing please feel free to leave a comment and I'll be glad to introduce you to a friend who is better than you can imagine. He loves you now.**

I like the way you...

I'm sitting here with a goofy grin on my face. I hesitate to tell you why. Someone I don't even know, looked at my site and told me "I like the way you write" It's small, and it was probably very insignificant to the person that said it, but still it made a difference. I'd been thinking about doing some complimenting of my own lately, *but never done it since I find myself yellow with cowardice at times*. Recently I found myself wanting to compliment a McDonalds employee. I've never been able to figure out how on earth they multitask enough to take orders and money and make change all at the same time. Next time you go through McD's, take a look, whoever is at that first cash window is a very busy bee. I've been considering complimenting my own friendly cash lady on her abilities in there but haven't done so yet.
And now, here I am basking in the afterglow of a simple complimentary statement and I find myself amazed at how easy it is to make a difference in someones day.
So here's what I want to say: Compliment someone. No, you're absolutely right, it's not necessary, but it makes a difference. And while you don't get the wonderful afterglow when you give compliments, they will. So let me practice,
McDonalds cash window people, I'm impressed with how well your job. My change has never been wrong, and somehow you've always smiled at me when the transactions over, even though I know by now someone is in your ear telling you 2 happy meals with burgers and no onions. You do a terrific job. Thanks.

Good morning

It is a good morning. No, it is a great morning! It's chilly outside. I love chilly weather. Thank you Lord for Fall.
Anyway, that's not why I'm writing.
I'm writing because I've been thinking about the sermon I heard last night at church. It was about the ruler that wanted salvation from Jesus and had kept all sorts of commandments. But, when he asked Jesus about receiving eternal life, Jesus "beholding him, loved him" (that was pretty cool in itself), and then he asked the ruler to do the one thing he knew the ruler just couldn't bear to do. Jesus wants all of us. He's not going to kindly thank us for being willing to give up x, y, and z. He wants every single bit of you. So... what if God suddenly said to me "Stop looking at houses, I don't want you to ever buy one." Or "quit planning on foster care, because I want you to give that dream over to me". I might give things over, but I can't promise I'd have the best attitude about it. Just discussing the very idea has me trying to swallow a huge lump in my throat.
So what's your one thing? What if God asked you to shave your head? It may seem outrageous, but how many women out there would willingly pick up the razor at God's command? What if God said to give up cable? What if God literally said sell everything except a couple of sets of clothes and a pair of shoes? What if God asked something as simple as giving up reading anything that's not the bible? Are you seriously willing to do whatever? Or does our servitude come with conditions of us keeping our pride?

I LOVE FALL!

I'm thrilled to tell you, fall has arrived. On the calendar it officially got here last Thursday. Unfortunately as our temps here stayed in the 100's we didn't really notice the event. But tonight, while I was driving to church, I noticed piles of those old brown leaves blowing down the side of the road. Piles of them! So Hello Fall! Thanks for coming!

Just for the record

After paying a $ 300 dollar mechanic bill, and listening to the explaination of WHY they feel the need to mark up the cost of an alternator 60%!!! I've decided to become a shade tree mechanic. I have no tree, and no tools at the moment (though I am now the proud owner of a socket wrench collection) (at least I think that's what they're called). But, regardless of those setbacks, I am going to become a shade tree mechanic.
That's all.

This wasn't what I was thinking.

I ask to pick brains about alternators and I so far I have more comments than ever before on here.
Unfortunately they're all from anonymous telling me "you can buy and sell anything, like music on interest free credit" , "or you can make over $800 a month in extra...", and also most importantly, I was graciously invited to "visit myhair loss natural remedy related site". I appreciate all the help people... thanks so much. :)

Do you mind if I pick your brain?

This may seem dumb, as no one comments on my blog, BUT I'm a firm believer in 'just in case'.
If anyone out there knows anything about car alternators/battery issues and happen to feel like showing off your expertise, well, I'd definitely appreciate it if you showed off in my direction.
That is all.
Thanks.

It's just a little bit of craziness, really.

It's overcast here.
To be overcast due to a hurricane is the closest I've ever come to a hurricane. It might rain too. I'm finding it difficult to look away from the window, as though any moment destruction will hit my tiny city. As an extra quirk, I keep imagining myself climbing on my roof and shouting out my hellos to Rita. Somehow I doubt my neighbors would understand my quirkiness, plus I'd probably fall through the roof.
I really should move to the country, at least then I wouldn't have to worry about the neighbors. :)

4am

I'm lying in bed rubbing vigorously at my eye. Something just fell in it I'm certain. I know something is there and my eye is telling me with every blink that somethings up. I get out of bed and trudge to the bathroom. I blink even more rapidly as the lights are far too bright for 4am. Then I spend 15 diligent minutes holding my eye open searching, periodically jabbing myself in the eye with my fingers and finally running water into my eye.
Nothing helps.
With a hand over my eye I trudge back to bed and hope that God's gift of tears will solve this problem.
6:30, I'm awake again. It's time to get up to get ready for work, my eye is still reminding me that something is there that doesn't belong.
7:45am I find myself at work, staring at my eye intently in the mirror. Finally I inform God that I don't want to spend my day blinking and staring red eyed at customers. And I tell Him that I know He can fix it. And that I can't imagine one good reason why it wouldn't be in His perfect will. And 8am comes around and I suddenly realize that my eye isn't bothering me anymore.
Only God is good. There is none, none like Him in all the earth.

Happiness

Ever had one of those moments when you realize how truly happy you are? It's like there's just joy seeping out of me and it makes me just want to laugh. Thankfully I live alone or someone would find this a bit strange. I'm so blessed, and I can just feel God's love surrounding me. I'm so fortunate to know Him and to have the opportunities I've had. It makes every day exciting as I wonder where on earth He's going to take me next.
I was given the privilege to help out with the Red Cross today. I can't tell you enough how kind those people are. I kept coming at them with question after question and never once did they get frustrated with me or the people I was bringing to them. They just kept on. I'm so happy to of been able to be there today. One of the cities near here turned an old Hobby Lobby (God bless the Hobby Lobby owners) into a big store with tons of donations. People signed up with the RC and then received a referral for the Salvation Army and was then able to go grab a shopping buggy and get whatever it is they needed. The people in the area have been SO very generous. I was able to settle people into whatever area they needed to be in to get whatever they wanted, and then (gaining valuable experience in case I ever become a waitress) I was able to direct them to where they could get juice or water or some small snacks. There was a small stack of donated bibles that people were able to grab and take if they wanted them also. People were coming into the store to GIVE at an equal rate to those that were coming in to TAKE. If you ever start to think the world is a hopeless cause, just go visit one of the many shelters or donation sites around.
To whoever is reading this... I just want to tell you that God loves you. He really truly does. It's not just one of the many 'sayings'. It's truth. Trust in Him, you may be surprised a few times by what happens, but He is always in control and He will never, NEVER let you down.
I'm wayyy too long winded to have a blog. :)

My first case!

I'm a CASA volunteer, thankfully that was made final with my 'swearing in' ceremony last Tuesday. And on Monday I got to take a look at what might be my first case. Today I attended a PPT (Permanancy Planning Team) meeting where all the attorneys and case workers CASA and FPS included, and parents come in to talk about how things are going and what all is happening and what will happen next. It was exciting to be a part of it. I'm co-working this with another CASA lady that's working at FEMA right now so she's a bit busy. I'm looking forward to the opportunity.
I know I'm an idealist when I keep thinking to myself "what can I say that might make a difference in this family and get them on the road to recovery". I'd like to be able to say I sat down with the mom and dad and gave them a good ol' Dr Phil speech and their lives drastically changed. Ok - I already know - I've watched too much tv. Things aren't solved overnight, there are things like relapses and stubbornness, and worst of all laziness and indifference. It'll take time. But you'll just have to excuse me because I'm young and want to keep my rose colored glasses on just a little bit longer before I become jaded. ;)

"The One"

I'm sad to say I spent Sunday visiting churches and didn't find "The One".

No good deed goes unpunished.

Or at least that's the belief of this home owners association.

I hate showdowns

I hate fighting.
My brother and his wife are about an hour away from handing a written agreement to my sis-in-laws former boss. They're demanding 2 weeks pay and her 1 weeks vacation pay plus a letter of recommendation. Included in the agreement is that if anyone calls to verify her previous employment there they won't say anything beyond what's on the letter of recommendation she is given.
OR
They'll sue for wrongful termination (since she was let go with no write ups, no verbal warnings, no problems at all documented).
Maybe that's why I worry about getting married, the fear of the divorce fight is just too horrible to imagine. Going from friends one day to potential courtroom opponents the next.
Now I've got whole church full of people I'll be hiding from in Wal-Mart from here on out just so I won't have to figure out what to say to them.
I hate fighting.

Testing

Of the many kinks I'll end up working out of this thing, I believe that I'm talking too much and the font is too big. So I'm going to shrink it and see what happens.

Mini rant

Ok.... if you look back on one of my original posts you'll notice that I've recently discovered the meaning of the word 'edify' -to instruct, build- (or something close to that). So! Don't take this as just my critical nature coming out but simply as my attempt to instruct the world in general.
If you want a job, ACT LIKE IT.
Don't come in wearing your shorts and tank top to ask for an application for employment. And when you do ask for an application actually ASK FOR IT. Don't just walk in the door and stumble around waiting for us to ask what we can do for you. So often the people coming in our office will just stand there until we ask what we can do for them and then they don't seem to know the answer. Some will actually answer that they're not sure what they need to do. And they haven't even indicated they actually need employment yet. We do a lot more in here than just take applications for people that want jobs and so if you want a job, be forceful (but not pushy) and say what you want. You're looking for work and want to fill out an application with our company.
Alright - now you've got the application - what to do next?
FILL IT OUT
We don't put questions on our application as suggestions of what we'd like to know. They're requirements. Personal references, job history, previous job duties, phone numbers, all things that we absolutely want the information on. We still need the information whether you know it or not. SO, assuming you've filled out more than one application in your lifetime, do you honestly not remember that companies want to know WHEN you worked with XYZ comp? Find out your information BEFORE you go to fill out the application. Because when you hand me an application that's half blank, and inform me that you don't know any of the rest of the information --- I've got a special file for it. And it's one that doesn't lead to a job.
I'm not complaining, I honestly am not personally invested in every person that comes in here looking for work. Because a lot of them are simply filling out the application so they can continue collecting unemployment. So I choose the ones I'll champion as wisely as I can. But I have a lot of work to do, and a lot of applications to go through without spending half my day trying to get YOU to complete your application (which is usually only done by asking you each individual question, and then helping you figure out the answer), or by tracking down the information myself.
If you want a job, be professional, and go get it. :)

Atlantic city joke

On a recent weekend in Atlantic City, a woman won a bucketful of quarters at a slot machine. She took a break from the slots for dinner with her husband in the hotel dining room. But first she wanted to stash the quarters in her room. "I'll be right back and we'll go to eat," she told her husband and carried the coin-laden bucket to the elevator. As she was about to walk into the elevator she noticed two men already aboard. Both were black. One of them was big.. very big... an intimidating figure. The woman froze.
Her first thought was: These two are going to rob me. Her next thought was: Don't be a bigot, they look like perfectly nice gentlemen.
But racial stereotypes are powerful, and fear immobilized her. She stood and stared at the two men. She felt anxious, flustered and ashamed. She hoped they didn't read her mind - but Goodness, they had to know what she was thinking!
Her hesitation about joining them in the elevator was all too obvious now. Her face was flushed. She couldn't just stand there, so with a mighty effort of will she picked up one foot and stepped forward and followed with the other foot and was on the elevator. Avoiding eye contact, she turned around stiffly and faced the elevator doors as they closed.
A second passed, and then another second, and then another. Her fear increased! The elevator didn't move. Panic consumed her. My Goodness, she thought, I'm trapped and about to be robbed! Her heart plummeted. Perspiration poured from every pore. Then one of the men said, "Hit the floor."
Instinct told her to do what they told her. The bucket of quarters flew upwards as she threw out her arms and collapsed on the elevator floor. A shower of coins rained down on her. Take my money and spare me, she prayed.
More seconds passed.
She heard one of the men say politely, "Ma'am, if you'll just tell us what floor you're going to, we'll push the button." The one who said it had a little trouble getting the words out. He was trying mightily to hold in a belly laugh.
The woman lifted her head and looked up at the two men. They reached down to help her up. Confused, she struggled to her feet. "When I told my friend here to hit the floor," said the average sized one, "I meant that he should hit the elevator button for our floor. I didn't mean for you to hit the floor, ma'am." He spoke genially. He bit his lip. It was obvious he was having a hard time not laughing.
The woman thought: My Goodness, what a spectacle I've made of myself. She was too humiliated to speak.
She wanted to blurt out an apology, but words failed her. How do you apologize to two perfectly respectable gentlemen for behaving as though they were going to rob you?
She didn't know what to say. The three of them gathered up the strewn quarters and refilled her bucket. When the elevator arrived at her floor they insisted on walking her to her room. She seemed a little unsteady on her feet, and they were afraid she might not make it down the corridor. At her door they bid her a good evening.
As she slipped into her room she could hear them roaring with laughter as they walked back to the elevator. The woman brushed herself off. She pulled herself together and went downstairs for dinner with her husband.
The next morning flowers were delivered to her room - a dozen roses. Attached to EACH rose was a crisp one hundred dollar bill. The card said: "Thanks for the best laugh we've had in years." It was signed,
Eddie MurphyMichael Jordan

Morning is here

It was an exhausting night.
I spent the evening with my brother trying to cheer up the jobless. We had a movie "The In-laws" (don't waste your time...) and 'happy food' such as cheese dip, pizza and chocolate chip cookies. I would of brought ice cream but I didn't know her favorite flavor.
So we tried to cheer up.
After going home I was thinking back on the day and remembered that I'd done an odd thing that morning. I would guess that I always want God's will in my life, but yesterday morning I actually stopped praying for this and that and those and said, "Lord, let your will be done today and just help us all to deal with it". I don't know what I was thinking popping out a prayer like that... but seeing as that same day my sis-in-law loses her job and the entire family is going to be leaving our church, I'm inclined to believe that He heard my prayer. I'm going to have to be more careful next time. ;)

Troubled times

I guess everyone starts a journal or blog of their events when something has actually happened. So, I guess I'll start off by telling you my event. It's not even my event so much as my families event. But, my sister-in-law works at our churches day care and was fired today. So she (and reasonably so) doesn't feel comfortable going back to the church. Especially since on Sunday mornings she and my brother and I all work in the childrens ministry. If they fired her because they didn't like her daycare work...why on earth would she be expected to continue the childrens church work? I can't imagine going back to a company I was fired from and doing volunteer work there. Can you?
Well, as an amazingly close knit (though odd) family, this news means our entire family is heading out the door. I'm not leaving in bitterness or anger or anything... just to support my sister-in-law. So we're all leaving. This is difficult and I wish there were some other way, but I just don't see it.
What's funny is, just last night our preacher preached on walking in love, and laying aside evil words (talking bad about people) putting away bitterness and speaking words of encouragment. So - being a naturally critical person - after I finished thinking about all the other people that could benefit from hearing a message like this, I realized that I needed to listen to a message like this. And I'm trying my best..... But that leaves me, well --- speechless.
I'm not an angry person, I'm just critical. I like to help people improve. And I'm usually stubbornly certain that I happen to know the very best way possible for them to improve. Unfortunately I just happen to forget to say things like "Good job" or "I appreciate you and what you're doing".... That leaves people feeling a bit short.
So, now I'm working on that. I will attempt to edify... Don't you wish someone were always around to edify you? I just looked up the word and it means to instruct or build up... maybe I wouldn't want people around 'edifying' me all the time. But actually I would. It's rare for you to find people in the world that actually want to help you, that see potential in you and want to help you grow into what God could have you be.
I wonder what's going to happen.

This Walk

I'm questioning whether I'll actually add to this regularly. I appreciate the value of journaling, but....sometimes that doesn't mean I'll actually do this.
Tomorrow I'll post something 'real'...
Lord willing :)