The Lord Gives and Takes Away and Gives Back Again, Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Michael recently had his birthday.

One thing he really wanted was a Nerf gun. He got a gift card for his birthday, so off to Wal Mart we go.

He picks out the one he wants and buys it all by himself.

We get home and he insists that he can open it and put it together himself, so I set about cooking dinner and a few minutes later he calls me and tells me it doesn't work.

I look at the gun and look at the picture, praying "God help me figure this out, this is so NOT my gifting".

I notice in the picture when you open the gun to put in the "bullets" there is a white string. On Michael's gun, the string is cut.

I asked him if he cut it. He told me that it wouldn't open all the way, so he cut it. I asked him if the directions told him to cut it.

He said no.

I told him matter of factly that he broke it.

He melted down completely. He was so upset that he wasted the money and didn't have his toy.

He was mad.

God gave me the opportunity to explain to him that if toys are more important than people, his brother and mother that he was being ugly to, that God will take them away.

He calmed down and he understood. He was still sad, but not hysterical.

Later that night Kevin and his lovely Lisa came over for ice cream. Michael showed him the gun and explained what happened. Kevin opened the gun up and it turns out the string that he cut runs through the whole gun and causes it to shoot.

Apparently kind of important.

Kevin, forever now known in our house as McGyver, said "this is fixable". With Alex in his lap, holding a flashlight "helping" Kevin took a shoe lace and ran it through the gun where the string was and got it to work.

The important lesson that Michael learned that night is that because he realized that people are far more important than toys, God gave his toy back to him.

Toys come and go and serve no eternal purpose. The people God brings into our lives to love and share Jesus with, that what is important.

Thank You God for these teachable moments.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:20-21

Potiphar's Wife

In studying the women of the Bible with Whitney, I have become so fascinated with their lives and they have become very real to me.

I can almost imagine what they went through and knowing the emotions they had and that their feelings are not any different than what we feel today makes them even more real.

Each woman is vitally important to history. They contribute to the fulfillment of prophesy, they help their husbands to be great leaders (or great leaders themselves) and most of all they are the lineage of Jesus.

Knowing that God saw the big picture before it even began makes me stand in awe.

God knows what happened to each of these women even though we don't. God tells us what we need to know and asks us to leave the rest to faith in His plan.

I have complete faith that He causes all things to work everything together for the good of those who love Him. Romans 8:28

We just finished Potiphar's wife.

Her story is found in Genesis 39. If you have not read it. Go read it now.

Wow.

We don't know much about her other than she was deceitful and vindictive and that she wouldn't take no for an answer.

The big picture of the story was not so much about her, rather about Joseph's obedience and desire to please God.

I felt sorry for Potiphar's wife. One of our assignments was to write a story on what we would have like to have seen happen to her.

Here is my story...

Potiphar's wife's maidservant had been outside in the garden. She was coming in the back door just as she saw Joseph struggling to get away from her lady. She hid behind a door as not to be seen. Her lady ran out the door and began to tell a terrible story about Joseph. The maid servant knew it to be just that, a story. For fear of her life, she stayed quiet, her lady was an evil, ruthless woman and you never knew what she would do. When Potiphar heard his wife's story, he was outraged and threw Joseph in prison. On the outside Potiphar's wife seemed victorious, she showed that Joseph, no man would deny her. But on the inside she was wracked with guilt at what had she done. Her maidservant sensed her lady's distress. Being a God-fearing woman, she prayed about what she should do. The Lord said, "Go to your lady, tell her what you have seen." Surely not she said, my lady will have me killed. "Fear not said the Lord. I will protect you as I have protected my servant Joseph, go now."

Her maidservant obeyed and went to her lady and told her that she had seen everything. In complete shame and guilt, her lady fell to the ground in tears. "Help me" she said to her maid servant. "I do not want to live this lie anymore. I have destroyed Joseph and shamed my husband."

"Get up" her maid servant said. "Go before the Lord and repent. He will forgive you and then tell your husband what you have done."

Her lady confessed to the Lord and He forgave her, she told her husband and he understood. He loved her and no longer ignored her. The Lord made her heart pure and free her from all unrightousness.

The End

We do not know if this is what happened. It does not matter if it is. What does matter is that God does the exact same thing for us today. There is a little bit of Eve, Sarah, Leah and even Potiphar's wife in all of us. But when we turn from our sins and ask for forgiveness, God hears us and makes our heart pure and frees us from all unrightousness.

He loves us that much.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the cousel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

Michael is Eight!!!!

My St. Patrick's Day baby is eight years old!!!

Just so you know, you were born at 11:00 pm, I pushed extra hard to get you out on St. Patty's Day!!

My first born, my child that is so like me it is scary.

Eight years of great conversations, because I swear you came out talking and asking questions that I didn't even know the answers to...so smart!!

I am so proud of you Michael. You are so caring and so loving, it warms my heart to see how you love people and how they love you back!!

I love how you love the Lord and how you soak it all up. I look forward to watching you grow into a Godly man and using the wonderful gifts He has given you!!

I love you my sweet boy.

Humbled in the Dark

" God gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud." James 4:6

God has taught me humility, He also taught me that the only reason I would not write this post would be out of fear and pride and He has addressed both of those issues.

Let me start by saying that this post has nothing to do with Kathryn, but everything to do with God.

In my flesh I am the most organized person who almost never forgets things. Honestly, I am like an elephant. I am the person people tell things to so they won't be forgotten.

I don't forget things.

I just don't.

That is why this is all God.

A couple of weeks ago on a Friday afternoon. I leave work, pick up my children and come home to what I think is a regular weekend.

I pull into my driveway and get out the car. I notice a tag on my door, but I figure it is another pizza coupon or someone wanting to mow my yard.

I get to the door, the tag is pink...it is from the City of College Station...no, no, no.

I forgot to pay my electric bill, how could it be? that just does not happen...and at five o'clock on a Friday afternoon.

Panic.

My first thoughts are what am I going to do? How am I going to make coffee? How am I going to blow my hair dry?

I am ashamed to admit, very selfish.

Then my mind kicks in, my food...I take care of that, because God doesn't waste anything.

That Friday night after my children were in bed, God began to work. There is something almost surreal about a house without electricity. It is a dark you can not explain, no lights on the VCR or nightlight in the bathroom.

And the quiet...no hum of the computer or refrigerator, no air conditioner kicking on.

God humbled me in every way possible. He showed me what it would look like if I depended on Him half as much as I depended on electricity.

I woke up on Saturday morning in a warm bed with the sunlight coming in the window and He showed me that I don't have it too bad. We take so much for granted. I had to think about absolutely everything I did, how we were going to eat and that we are not guaranteed our next meal, even if we think we are.

To go to the bathroom and take showers required flashlights and candles. We had to depend on God for everything and as a family, we had to work together. Michael was on antibiotics, that praise God did not require refrigeration...how often does that happen? For his nightime dose, he held the flashlight while I measured the dosage...God took us to the core.

All weekend there was no television or playstation. My children played together so beautifully.

Nobody got spanked all weekend...that is an act of God right there!!

I never felt alone or scared...therefore my children never felt alone or scared. One time Alex did not want to go down the hall, I said "wait, I will guide you." God instantly said, "so will I."

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6

My one fear was telling my mother. Normally, I would have figured out a way to avoid telling her, but God was addressing all of my issues this weekend. I had told her that I would cook lunch for her Sunday afternoon...Italian casserole, because she had to try it. When the electricty goes out, your oven doesn't work, so that was not going to happen. I feared telling her for fear of hearing, "Kathryn, how could you let this happen, what are you going to do..." fear of man...no condemnation in Christ...Instead, I got "Oh sweetie, don't worry, is there anything I can do?"...grace...mercy.

"No momma, I am really ok."

Grace.

Even through all of this, God was so graceful. It was not 20 degrees outside or 95 degrees. It was a perfect 65 degree and I was comfortable all weekend with no air or heat.

Praise the Lord my hot water runs on gas. We were able to bathe and be clean. When I shared this story with my HOPE group, they said they had no idea...

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

I only shared with two people all weekend. God showed me that if I went around telling people, it would have been about poor Kathryn doesn't have electricity, not the amazing work God was doing in me.

God showed me that I am not in control.

It is not about me.

That I can do all things through Christ who give me strength. Philippians 4:13

He showed me that He inhabits all of the earth and that He cares about me and will take care of all of my needs...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27

He showed me that I can see Him in absolutely everything...sometimes you just have to turn out the lights to see Him.

Michael Monday Story

THE AUTHOR OF MICHAEL ON MONDAY IS CURRENTLY ON SPRING BREAK AT NANNY'S HOUSE.

HE MISSES YOU AND WILL BE BACK IN FULL FORCE NEXT WEEK!!

Spring Break

Spring Break.

It means different things to different people.

For some it is skiing.

For some it is the beach.

For some it is for mission trips to far off places.

and for some it is a time just to rest and relax with family.

But spring break means much more to those of us who stay in Bryan/College Station.

It means driving down Texas Avenue and not being bumper to bumper.

It means getting to the gym at the last minute and still getting a pass for Body Pump. Actually after spring break, all of those people who made New Years resolutions to start working out will have lost interest and we will have the gym back.

Bonus.

It means going to a restraunt any time of day and getting seated immediately...

So for those of you who are leaving, you will be sorely missed and I look forward to hearing all about your trips, but for just a short bit I will enjoy our once small town.

Really, I remember when I was in high school, I won't say when that was, but lets just say George Bush Sr. was president, back when Rock Prairie Road was out in the middle of nowhere and when the college students would leave, you could actually see tumbleweeds going down the road.

One week, that will be plenty of time for me.

Plenty of time to tell everyone I got down Texas Avenue in three minutes and it sure is quiet around here. Anything longer than that and I will be totally lost and sad.

Bittersweet.

For those of you who are staying here, you can come help me serve food and play with kids at the Bryan Outreach.

Much fun will be had by all.

Michael Monday Story

The Robot and the Bear
by Michael Sexton

Once there was a robot. He lives just right outside of a lake. He wants to destroy the world but his mommy said no.

Just right before he went to bed, he looked outside his window. He saw a bear!!!

But the bear was sleeping, so he couldn't go meet the bear.

The robot went outside and saw the bear wasn't asleep, he was awake playing chess on the computer. So the robot tapped on his should but the bear didn't respond. So the robot climbed back inside and got up in the morning and destroyed the world.

But he disobeyed his mommy and he got punished.

The End

A little Piece of Heaven

This is my new best friend.

Cream Cheese.

In a recent post of Heather's, she gave the recipe to Italian Casserole (comment section of stupid flu) I made it for HOPE group. It was wonderful.

If you have not made it yet, go do it now.

Just the right amount of creamy goodness to meaty flavor. I did not think I could find anything to match it.

Until Saturday.

I went to Jeanette Mitchell's house for brunch.

Michael likes the word brunch, he wants to do brunch again.

So do I.

At this brunch we had Sopapilla Cheesecake. It is the dessert version of Italian Casserole.

Here is the recipe:

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 pkg. Cream Cheese
2 cans Crescent rolls
2 c. Sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 c. Butter
Cinnamon

Spray a 9x13 pan with Pam. Roll out one layer of crescent rolls on the bottom (press together any holes). In a bowl, beat cream cheese, 1c. sugar, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Spread over layer of crescent rolls, but not all the way to the edges. Roll second layer of crescent rolls on top. Melt 1/2 c. butter, and mix with 1 c. sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla. Pour over the top and smooth out. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Notice TWO PACKAGES of cream cheese. It was a little piece of Heaven.

I am thankful for RPM and Body Pump to work off the cream cheese.

Cream cheese is my new best friend, I can not imagine anything better except seeing Jesus Himself and when I do, I am going to thank Him for creating cream cheese!!!