Adventures in Union

This week I had the honor of going to help with Union County's FCA Power Camp. Power Camp is designed for rising 2nd - 6th graders. They come to camp each day to participate and learn skill in basketball, football, soccer or cheerleading. Each day they have praise and worship, time in their sport and a devotional. It was such a blessing to be there, help James, and meet the people of Union. What a great town.

I had two big God size things happen this week. One requires back groud info, so here it goes. Before I left my Dad gave me $200. I needed something from Walmart before we left, ran in and stuck the cash in my pocket and not my purse. By the next day I realized I had dropped that money out of my pocket and in Walmart. I called to see if it had been turned in and it had not. I was angry, first at myself and then at whoever picked it up. I then began to pray that God would bless whoever had picked it up and that He would change my negative attitude! I had totally let go of the money and knew God would provide. Fast forward from Sunday to Thursday... Nick and I drove to Spartenburg to have lunch and check out a new Christian Book Store. When we were leaving there was a man and his dog who was obviously homeless sitting under a tree. He did not pan handle or even look up at us or anyone else in the parking lot. We got in the car and began to leave and I felt that small voice inside of me that said, "The least you can do is give him $5". I shared this with Nick and we pulled the car back around. I pulled up next to him and gave him the money. We then left to go get Ice cream. It was then Nick said "Mommy, I think God wants us to give him one of the new shirts we got so he does not get a sunburn" So this time we went back and Nick got out, gave the man the shirt and told him why God wanted him to have it. With tears in his eyes the man said thank you! It was an awesome moment and a great discussion for Nick and I the whole way home. Friday morning I was getting dressed and reached into my pants pocket to straighten it out and found my missing $200! These were not the pants I wore that day, I am 100% sure of that! Plus I had spent $50 of it!

My other huge God moment was Friday. If you have spoken to me since I got back, you know I have little to no voice. I began with a sore throat on Tuesday and began praying against illness. I also asked several of my prayer warriors to pray with me on this. Wednesday - Thursday afternoon I felt pretty good. By Thursday my sore throat was back. Friday morning was great with the kids, we had a great speaker and I was to go up and do the alter call. I got up spoke and then prayed for the kids. It was awesome. We had some where around 50 kids make a decision for Christ. The moment I said Amen, my voice was gone. I believe with all my heart the enemy did not want that alter call made and God protected my voice till then end! His timing is perfect!

So today I rest and get ready to head to Girls Basketball Camp on Sunday! I cant wait to see what is around the corner!!!

A Fathers Love and our hearts desire

I got something this weekend. Something went from head knowledge to full heart knowledge. I have read 100 times about God's love, how He has plans for me to prosper me, how he will give me the desires of my heart if I delight myself in him...I can quote it all, I know it ... but this weekend I understood.

Nick turned 7 on Sunday. On Saturday we had a party planned for Splash Island. I had spent so much energy on doing all I could to make it perfect for him. About 30 minutes into the party it began to thunder and we ended up leaving and going home. I was so disappointed, Nick was ok but I hated that I could not give him his hearts desire. On Sunday we had a family party and I could not wait. A few weeks ago Nick came home and asked if he could have a kitten. I said no but began to think...for 2 years he has made little comments about wanting a yellow kitten. I changed my mind and called his Dad and step-Mom for them to help me pull off this surprise for his birthday. I have been so excited because I knew it was his heart desire..he had accepted my no and did not ask any more which made this all the more exciting. I could not wait for him to get his kitten (this is the one he picked out 2 weeks before and said loved him so much!) When he got his kitten his face was so shocked and he looked at me and asked if he really gets to keep her. He was and is so happy...for me giving him his hearts desire was such pure joy!

For years now I have gone back and forth with knowing and feeling strong in the fact that God loves me, knows what is best for me and will grant me my hearts desire and being sad because I would love to have a godly man in my life and possibly get married again in the future. I will get self righteous and name all of the commandments I have followed and all of the places I have been obedient. Wondering what is wrong with me, it has to be me...am I not smart enough, pretty enough, do I have bad breath, to fat...etc. Ive let the enemy beat me up for years on this one. It is my Achilles heel! I am studying a book called Searching for a Superman, Watching for a Wonder Woman...Preparing to find the love you desire. In this I have committed to doing the hard work to be the person God wants me to be and to work on me and me only. I will delight myself in the Lord!

Today I felt God show me that as much as I love Nick and I loved doing everything I can for him to include giving him the desires of his heart...nothing I gave him was something he was not ready for. At the age of 7 I did not buy him a car. He showed me how he loves me more than I love my child ( hard to think that is possible) and that He loves to give me (us) our hearts desire but His timing is perfect and He will not give me something before I am ready.

For me the timing of that lesson was perfect. I think it hit my heart at a perfect time...a time when I really got it...not just in my head but in my heart! And when timing is right he will bring me the man that is the desire of my heart and I will be the desire of his heart also!